Weekend balita sept 6, 2014

LOS ANGELES

VOL. XXII, NO. 31

SEPTEMBER 6 - 12, 2014

THE LEADING SOURCE OF NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR FILIPINO-AMERICANS

Pinoys in UK, Ireland warned of terror threats

Manny Pacquiao seems to be wondering why the hell he was matched to a much taller guy in the person of Chris Algieri in a boxing match. Well, he did beat Oscar Dela Hoya and Antonio Margarito, both taller fighters both of whom have had stellar boxing careers. Pacquiao and Algieri will meet on November 22 in Macau. Photo: Benny Uy/Los Angeles

MANILA, Sept 2 (Mabuhay) – Filipinos in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland were advised to be vigilant and to take precautions for safety after the terror threat level there was raised to “severe.”

The Philippine Embassy in UK said the “severe” threat level indicates the UK government believes a terrorist attack is highly likely, though not yet imminent.

“Be vigilant and take general precautions for personal safety,” the embassy said.

It noted that while the “severe” warning means a terrorist attack is highly likely, authorities note there is “no specific intel-

ligence that an attack is imminent.”

Other tips the embassy gave Filipinos in the UK and Northern Ireland include: Heed the official government warning/s Monitor government information channels and the general media for further developments or updates on the situation Filipinos can also get information on the UK national security situation on the main government website and the Security Service.

“Should there be need to, the Embassy may be contacted through our 24-hour emergency hotline on 07802790695,” it said. (MNS)

Self-proclaimed anti-China ‘general’ behind NAIA bomb plot – De Lima MANILA, Sept 2 (Mabuhay) – A selfproclaimed anti-China group has been linked to Monday’s foiled attempt to smuggle improvised explosives into the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Tuesday morning.

In a press conference at the National Bureau of Investigation, de Lima said the leader of three men arrested Monday was one Pepito Guerrero, a self-proclaimed “general” of “USAFFE.” “Inaalam (namin kung) gaano kalaki o ilan ang member. Ang kanilang sinu-

sulong from initial investigation is hindi sila kuntento, frustrated sila sa stand ng pamahalaan kontra sa China,” she said in the press conference.

She identified the two other arrested as Emmanuel San Pedro and Sonny Diojanon.

The three will undergo inquest proceedings within the day and be charged with illegal possession of explosives.

Possible added charges being studied against them include conspiracy to commit terrorism, she said.

Once pressed with charges, the three See GENERAL, page 9

President Benigno S. Aquino III while inspecting the security arrangements and facilities at the domestic departure area, Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City in this Balita file photo taken last October to ensure the safety of the passengers.

Palace: Improved WEF ranking means PHL more open for business

nas failed to beat Puerto Rico,73-77, it lost by a slim margin, similar to its previous games against higher-ranked squads like Croatia, Greece and Argentina.

“At sino mang nakakaunawa ng basketball ang magsasabing kung nadagdagan lang ang swerte eh maaari pang naipagtagumpay ito,” he said.

(And to anyone who understands basketball, they may say that with a little more luck, our team would have won.)

Malacañang has been cheering for the team since it joined the World Cup, its spokespersons remaining optimistic and enjoining the public to continue showing

MANILA, Sept 3 (Mabuhay) – The latest jump in the country’s competitiveness ranking proves that the country is ready to take in more businesses and investments, Malacañang said Wednesday.

“Coming on the heels of the successful WEF (World Economic Forum) on East Asia in Manila last May, this latest measurement of the country’s competitiveness is another demonstration that the Philippines is indeed more open for business than ever before,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said, in reaction to the WEF Global Competitiveness Report that showed the Philippines climbing seven places to rank 52.

“In our region, for example, the Philippines is considered one of the brightest spots, and is the second fastest growing economy among major Asian countries for the second quarter, tied with Malaysia,” he added.

Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr., on the other hand, said the government continues to address the need to improve infrastructure.

“The biggest area of improvement is still Infrastructure and this is being ad-

See GILAS, page 9

See IMPROVED, page 9

The Gilas Pilipinas team has just given the country its first win in FIBA tournament in forty years.

Amid losses, Gilas still a source of PHL pride –Palace MANILA, Sept 4 (Mabuhay) – Despite the team’s elimination at the 2014 FIBA World Cup, Gilas Pilipinas is still a source of pride for the country, Malacañang said Thursday.

“Taas noo ang ating mga manlalaro, taas noo pa rin ang mga Pilipino ‘pagkat kahanga-hanga rin naman ang kanilang pinakitang husay sa pakikipaglaro,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said during a televised briefing.

(Our players are holding their head up high. Filipinos are also holding their head up high because the team has done well in the competition.)

Coloma said that although Gilas Pilipi-

2

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Passengers on stalled MRT trains should get refund – Poe MANILA, Sept 2 (Mabuhay) -- Senator Grace Poe on Tuesday said she will push for a refund for commuters of Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT-3) trains that stops operations.

“Pangako lamang nila sa akin ay titingnan nila yung posibilidad na magkaroon ng tamang pagtrato sa mga pasahero pagdating sa pagbigay ng refund. Sabi ko, ‘magbigay naman kayo ng refund, ano yun, TY nalang na kapag nasira o nasayang lang yung binayad niyo.’ So, magbigay ng refund, tingin ko karapatan yun ng mga mananakay,” she said.

On Monday, Poe initiated a Senate investigation into the current state of the MRT-3 after one of its trains overshot its track last month, leaving at least 30 people injured.

Resource persons from the Department of Transportation and Communications said the MRT system is facing several problems including defective ticket vending machines, old traction motors, broken escalators and elevators and many others.

The Department of Transportation and Communications said service interruptions

of the MRT-3 now occur weekly.

Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya said the additional prototype of the new MRT coaches will arrive next year.

Poe noted, however, that a prototype means this will have to be assessed if it would work. “So let’s just hope na gumana ito, sapagkat ang ibig sabihin pala kung prototype pa lang, technically hindi pa tayo talaga nag-o-order.”

What Poe criticized, however, is the awarding of the maintenance contract to a company that has no proven record.

“Ayaw mo naman magkaroon ng duda pero mapapailing ka talaga katulad niyan, bakit ka kukuha ng kumpanya na magaalaga ng MRT na parang mas malaki pa yata ang puhunan ng isang medium size na business diba? Parang 500,000 yata ang capitalization… hindi ko na maalala eksakto pero kasi napakababa po at the experience ng kumpanya ay dalawang buwan pa lang silang incorporated so bakit mo ipagkakatiwala ang buhay ng milyun-milyon nating pasahero e hindi ka naman sigurado.”

Poe asked the public to give the gov-

The Metro Rail Transit (MRT) train slams the barrier at the corner of EDSA and Taft Avenue Station on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 13, 2014) in Pasay City. (MNS photo)

ernment a chance to resolve the problems affecting the MRT-3 system.

“Ako po ay hindi nawawalan ng pagasa dahil nasa pagkatao naman ni Sec.

Abaya ay hindi na matatawaran kaya dapat ay bigyan natin sila ng pagakakataon na mapatunayan ang malasakit ng gobyerno,” she said. (MNS)

67 vehicles impounded since June over tougher anti-colorum drive MANILA, Sept 2 (Mabuhay) – At least 67 colorum vehicles have been impounded by transportation authorities since a joint administrative order against such vehicles went into effect last June.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and Land Transportation Office caught the 67 since June 19.

Citing data from the two agencies, the impounded vehicles included 23 buses.

Also impounded were UV Express vehicles, taxis, vans, and delivery trucks.

Under the joint administrative order

of the Department of Transportation and Communications, LTO and LTFRB, heavier fines are imposed on colorum public utility vehicles.

Fines for first-time offenders include: Buses: P1 million Trucks: P200,000 Jeepneys: P50,000 Vans: P200,000 Sedans: P120,000 Motorcycles: P6,000 Also, the colorum vehicles will be impounded for at least three months while

the entire franchise to which the colorum vehicle belongs will be revoked.

The colorums will also be blacklisted from being used as PUVs in the future.

For second offenses, the entire fleet or all certificates of public convenience of the operator will be revoked, the vehicles will be blacklisted from being used as PUVs in the future, and their vehicle registrations will also be revoked.

Also, the violating operator will be disqualified from operating any kind of public land transportation. (MNS)

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Is bankruptcy the right thing to do?

Ask yourself the following: Are you heavily in debt, with little prospect of relief in the near future?

Have you had, or are your creditors threatening, a foreclosure on your home, a repossession of your car or other legal action to take your property?

Have you experienced a dramatic drop in income?

Are you frequently late paying bills?

Do you only pay the minimum on your credit cards? of your options. You may even find out that Are you unable to make even the mini- you have more options than you thought! mum payments?

So what happens, when your attorney Do you have to sacrifice basic necessi- files a Bankruptcy on your behalf? ties to make ends meet?

Before filing your case, the law requires Are you paying more money than you that you receive a briefing from a certimake on basic living expenses? fied credit-counseling agency to explain Are you losing sleep at night wondering financial management to you, alternatives how you’re going to make it? to bankruptcy, and how to do a budget Have you bounced more than one check analysis. Although there are some hardin the last two months? ship exceptions to this rule, most debtors Are your wages currently, or in jeopardy will have to get this briefing. Our office of, being garnished? subscribes to an approved online service Have you recently become sick, or provider, and we set you up with the necespartially or totally disabled? sary login information. This usually takes Are you going through a divorce result- less than 30 minutes and can be done at ing in a decrease of income but an increase home or in our office. in expenses?

People with high incomes and even Next, your attorney files the petition in higher debts can also qualify for debt re- local bankruptcy court. When this occurs, lief through bankruptcy. If your answer to the court appoints a bankruptcy trustee one or more of the above questions was a to your case and an “Automatic Stay” is “Yes”, you should call me immediately. I entered. This is a court order prohibiting can help you. all creditors from taking any further action Bankruptcy chapter 7 or 13 can elimi- against you outside of bankruptcy court. nate your debt and give you a fresh start This action is designed to: to rebuild your credit within a relatively Stop harassing calls and bills from short period of time. A clean slate is the creditors ultimate tool of empowerment. It enables Protect your property from seizure you to take back control of your finances, Prohibit or suspend creditor lawsuits and plan for the future. A good night’s sleep against you may also be one of the benefits of “getting Prevent foreclosure of your home your life back together again”, and that is Stop wage garnishments worth a lot.

Block the repossession of your autoFor many people, the decision to pursue mobile. bankruptcy protection is not easy to make.

The automatic stay can be waived if the Somehow, you want to save face and “do creditor is a government agency, or has a the right thing.” You continue to struggle security interest in real or personal propalong while your creditors turn up the heat. erty, such as a mortgage or auto loan. HowPretty soon, with all the late fees, penalties ever, they do have to file a court motion and mounting interest, it becomes impos- to lift the stay, which gives you and your sible to keep your head above water. You attorney time to consider various options, feel you are drowning, and financially, you including a possible loan modification, or probably are. amortizing delinquent payments through Your next step is to talk to a qualified a chapter 13 plan over five years, or both. bankruptcy attorney to assess your rights Bankruptcy will eliminate all unseand determine if bankruptcy is right for cured debt. This includes credit card debt, you. Bankruptcy is not for everyone, but medical bills, personal loans, judgments you need to be an informed consumer to resulting from car accidents, deficiencies make the right decision. Don’t you think on repossessed vehicles, Payday loans and it’s time to take a good hard look at your even some older income taxes, provided it own financial situation? Taking a close meets very specific criteria. However, you look at the bottom line takes courage, but will still be liable for debts on Child supit’s a necessity. Don’t wait until your wages port, Taxes, and Student loans. are being garnished or your car is reposIf you need help in resolving your sessed. You and your family deserve better. financial problems, easing that debt load, Be proactive and resolve the situation now. and want to improve your credit scores, Even if you are in the early stages of call the bankruptcy lawyer that people experiencing mounting debt problems, call trust. Call the Law Offices of Paul M. my office today. As an experienced bank- Allen, and schedule a free consultation. ruptcy attorney, I can help separate panic Two convenient locations to serve you. from reality and assist you in identifying all Glendale: 818-552-4500.

Importer, broker sued for smuggling counterfiet luxury items MANILA, Sept 4 (Mabuhay) – An importer of knockoff designer bags and accessories and his customs broker have been sued for smuggling into the country these fake products.

In a statement, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said it sued Noel Villaflor, owner and proprietor of NSGV Trading, and his broker Sherjun Saldon for violations of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines and the Intellectual Property (IP) Code.

The case pertains to a shipment from China last May in a 40-foot container that arrived at the Manila International Container Port. Composed of 600 cartons, the shipment’s papers declared that it contained various women’s clothing and accessories, skateboards and parts thereof, PVC flooring, plastic cases and boxes, and aluminum ladder and grinder. Inspection by BOC personnel however uncovered 15,960 undeclared items that included “Class A” counterfeit luxury bags and accessories that bore international brands like Hermes, Ralph Lauren, Tory Burch, Prada, Celine, Michael Kors, Burberry, Fitflop, Lacoste and Ray-Ban, as well as local brands Onesimus and Una Rosa.

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807 Pinoys jailed worldwide for drug smuggling – PDEA MANILA, Sept 4 (Mabuhay) – There arSe at least 807 Filipinos detained around the world for smuggling drugs, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said Thursday as it reiterated its warning for travelers, particularly overseas workers, not to allow themselves to be recruited as mules, or couriers.

The agency re-issued the warning following reports about the death sentences handed down by Vietnam on two FSest of a Filipina in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for bringing in three kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or “shabu.�

According to PDEA, of the Filipinos

jailed on drug charges as of July this year, 401 are males and 406 females.

Of these, 34 are in Malaysian jails, while 12 others are detained in Vietnam. “PDEA may sound like a broken record but we will continue to issue warnings to safeguard all Filipinos traveling overseas, even if these cautions fall on deaf ears because some of our countrymen continue to smuggle illegal drugs to make quick cash.

The bottom line, however, remains the same, being a drug mule is a senseless act of risking one’s life and future over drug money,� the agency’s director general, Arturo Cacdac Jr., said. (MNS)

Trillanes denies intimidating contractor of controversial Makati building MANILA, Sept 3 (Mabuhay) – Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday denied intimidating the president of Hilmarc’s Construction Corporation, the contractor of the controversial Makati City Hall Building II, as accused by Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Trillanes made the admission during Thursday’s hearing by the Senate blue ribbon committee, which is investigating the alleged overpricing in the construction of the building in 2007.

At the hearing, lawyer Rogelio Peig, Hilmarc’s assistant vice president for legal, said their president, Robert Henson, decided to defer their presentation during the last hearing after being approached by a Senate staff. He also said that Trillanes talked to them after the hearing. “Ang sabi po niya ay wag nyo akong sisihin kasi sinabihan ko kayo. Bubuhusan namin ito. I don’t know what he meant,�

Peig told the committee.

Peig had not yet mentioned Trillanes’ name when the senator butted in, saying

his name was mentioned.

Trillanes said he did not intimidate Henson and the others. “Sinabi ko ba sa inyo na gumawa kayo ng kwento? Sinabi ko ba na ipitin nyo kung sinuman?� he asked Peig. “I was trying to protect you pero kung sasama kayo sa cover-up bahala kayo. Kung makakayanan nyo na si Vice President Binay ay magiging president, di suking suki kayo. It is a big gamble on your part. If you are part of the cover-up bubuhusan ito ng lahat ng penalties of the law.�

Trillanes has accused Binay, who was Makati mayor in 2007, of having a hand in the alleged overpricing in the Makati City Hall Building II. He also said it was Henson who decided that they will not make the presentation and will just observe the hearing.

Peig clarified that the conversation with Trillanes was “very friendly.�

Trillanes said he also wanted to make it clear that he did not bully the resource person.

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Sandiganbayan rules out Revilla transfer to regular jail MANILA, Sept 4 (Mabuhay) – The Sandiganbayan first division denied for lack of merit the state prosecutors’ move to transfer Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. to a regular jail as he faces plunder over the pork barrel scam.

In a resolution released on Thursday, the division junked the state prosecution’s motion to transfer Revilla to a regular jail from the Philippine National Police Custodial Center, where he is currently detained as he stands trial for plunder.

Revilla, along with Senators Jose “Jinggoy� Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile, faces plunder and graft over their alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam, the alleged diversion of public funds to ghost projects for kickbacks under the scheme of Janet Lim-Napoles.

Meanwhile, the prosecution panel on Thursday denied that it had any intention of disobeying a direct order from the Sandiganbayan, saying it merely sought to protect the privacy of principal whistleblower Benhur Luy. Revilla Jr.’s lawyers earlier asked the anti graft court to cite lead prosecutor Luy, Joefferson Toribio and NBI special investigator Joey Narciso to be cited for contempt for stopping the defense team from obtaining a copy of the files in Luy’s external hard drive.

The hard drive is said to contain evidence pertaining to businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles’ anomalous dealings with lawmakers. Luy, however, tried to stop the defense from copying his files, saying private, personal information is stored in it.

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A contingent of Philippine soldiers – more than 70 strong – manned this UN post in Golan Heights before engaging Syrian rebels for seven hours on Saturday. Though surrounded and attacked with heavy artillery, the Filipino UN peacekeepers held their ground and were able to escape through the cover of darkness. Photos of Filipino UN peacekeepers in Golan Heighs by First Consul Elmer G. Cato/DFA.

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AFP not inclined to send troops to Golan Heights MANILA, Sept 3 (Mabuhay) – The Armed Forces of the Philippines is not inclined to send another set of Filipino peacekeepers to Golan Heights following the attack of Syrian rebels, newly-confirmed AFP chief of staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr said Wednesday.

“I think we are not inclined to participate kung ganun na. I think it is up to the President (Benigno Aquino III) to decide kung ganun ang request ng UN (United Nations),” he told reporters after his confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.

Filipino peacekeepers were able to escape the Syrian rebels, who were holding several Fijian peacekeepers captive, following several days of tense standoff.

During the CA hearing, Rep. Rufus Rodriguez suggested that the Philippines send more troops to Golan Heights.

“I think we should increase the Filipino contingent there to be able to defend Golan Heights,” the lawmaker said.

Catapang did not respond during the hearing but told reporters after the hearing that he does not favor it. “’Pag dinagdagan namin, magbabago na ‘yung sitwasyon. It will not be a peacekeeping operation; it will be peace enforcement. To secure peace, hindi na peacekeepers ‘yun, enforcement operations na ‘yun,” he said. Catapang said the operation in Golan Heights is no longer peacekeeping but peace enforcement.

CA confirms Catapang, 51 other senior military officers MANILA, Sept 3 (Mabuhay) – The Commission on Appointments on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. and 51 other senior military officers.

In recommending Catapang’s appointment, Capiz Rep. Antonio del Rosario said with Catapang’s “remarkable qualification, AFP will continue to gain ground in defending the nation, protecting the democracy and serving the Filipino people.”

No one expressed opposition to Catapang’s confirmation.

During the hearing of the CA committee on national defense, lawmakers commended Catapang for the successful escape of some 40 Filipino peacekeepers in Golan Heights.

Meanwhile, the CA also confirmed the appointments of the following military officers: Lt. Gen. John Bonafos Brig. Gen. Inocencio Mayangao Brig. Gen. Angelito de Leon Brig. Gen. Arnold Mancita Brig. Gen. Irma Almoneda Major Gen. Edwin Remotigue Major Gen. Victor Bayani Col. Pacianito Castillo Col. Nolasco Mempin Col. Joshua Santiago Col. Virgilio Magaway Col. Nestor De Ver Capt. Carlito Lomboy Capt. Zumeela Serrona Col. Wilfredo Nakpil Col. Noreto Sison Col. Gerry Pulohanan Col. Bernardo Odfina Col. Ma. Victoria Juan

Col. Francis Cabugon Col. Marlo Guloy Col. Gregory Docil Col. Andrew Castelo Col. Glenn Cruz Col. Roy Cabe Col. Bebarlito Baribar Col. Keymen Edao Col. Eduardo Agcaoilo Col. Edwin Buela Col. Joselito Apin Col. Christopher Florendo Col. Facundo Palafox IV Col. Francis Millare Col. Leonidas Hidalgo Col. Rosalio Pompa Col. Leo Valdez Col. Benjamin Pedralez Col. Domingo Gobway Col. Joel Alejandro Nacnac Col. Jose Maria Cuerpo II Col. Maning Tawantawanan Col. Aguinaldo Ordonez Col. Santiago Enginco Col. Benito Doniego Jr Col. Honorio Abenojar Col. Teodoro Batilo Col. Carlo Lagasca Col. Leopoldo Castisimo Col. Florante Falsis Col. Moises Duque Col. Jimmy Estolas.

The appointments of Almoneda and Lagasca were confirmed even though they were not present during the hearing.

Almoneda was on official mission while Lagasca was attending school in the United States.

They both submitted waiver of appearance. (MNS)

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Think before you sign that voluntary declaration of parentage at the hospital – Are you sure?

You are at the hospital and you are all excited. You just learned from an old girlfriend that you are about to be a father and your baby needs you to “man up.� You hadn’t seen nor heard from the baby’s mother in months and you thought that was it until now. You are about to be a daddy. Exciting, thrilling if it is true. You show up at the hospital and the nurse hands you some forms to sign and she asks you if youre the father and what else are you going to say

but “yeah, I am.� So with all the euphoria sets in and you read something that says voluntary declaration or have other indications materialize that of parentage or paternity and you don’t contradict your parentage. know what it all means but you sign it If you had gone ahead and sign a volanyway..Think once, twice before you do. untary declaration by error or coercion it is Paternity or parentage in California not too late. If you are otherwise contestcarries with it a lot of legal consequences ing parentage or have grounds to do so, in terms of obligations and responsibilities you should consult an attorney about your for this young life, including child support rights. What is that old saying – better to and health care. You shall be presumed to be sure than sorry. be what you declare you are. So before Attorney Miguel Inumerable is a graduyou go on and sign a form saying you are ate of UCLA Law School and has more than the daddy, you better be sure that you are. 25 years experience serving the Filipino A DNA testing of the baby nowadays is community. He is bilingual in Tagalog and both quick and painless and it will give you English. His areas of practice includes peace of mind.

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World Class Children’s Choir from the Philippines Captures the Hearts of Filipino-Angelenos: The Baao Children and Youth Choir (BCYC) is a community and church based choir composed of 11 to18 year-old students from Rosary School Inc. and Baao National High School Special Program in the Arts. Beginning August 6 up to September 3, 2014, the Baao Children and Youth Choir held its 4th International Tour to the United States and represented the Philippines in the 15th Mundial de Coros in Puebla, Mexico. Last August 29, the choir had a concert at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church at Santa Monica Blvd. in Los Angeles coordinated by the church’s musical director, Pete Avendano, and with the blessing and attendance of Pastor/ Administrator, Fr. Larry Revilla. Photo: Benny Uy

Corrupt Customs agents Aquino’s next target

By Cecil Morella

MANILA, September 3, 2014 (AFP) – Standing near mountains of goods destined to be smuggled through the Philippines’ biggest port, the nation’s customs chief admits that being on the frontline of the president’s war on graft is overwhelming. “I’ve never seen anything like it,� John Sevilla said, commenting on a pervasive culture of bribery, extortion and stealing at a government agency that collects revenues equivalent to 20 percent of the nation’s budget. “There’s no secret about the fact that this is not an agency which inspires a lot of trust and confidence among our people.�

But Sevilla, a former Goldman Sachs executive, has bold plans for systemic change that are showing early signs of success. President Benigno Aquino, who has made fighting graft a central tenet of his administration, appointed Sevilla to head the bureau in December last year after launching a scathing verbal assault on customs personnel. “Where do these people get the gall,�

Aquino said in his annual State of the Nation address as he accused customs staff of “heedlessly permitting the smuggling of goods, and even drugs, arms and other items.� Aquino said customs personnel’s greed cost the country at least 200 billion pesos ($4.6 billion) in lost revenues each year – at least two percent of the country’s economic output.

Several months later, the then-customs chief resigned after being charged over a separate corruption scandal involving the alleged theft of government funds.

He was replaced by Sevilla, who was then a finance undersecretary and well regarded for his earlier career with global financial giants, including Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong and Standard & Poor’s in New York. “I was not prepared for this. I was not prepared to come into customs at all,� the 45-year-old said, holding his head in mock woe during a recent tour of customs headquarters and Manila’s main port.

Tens of thousands of containers are stacked at the port, and Sevilla pointed out that overwhelmed customs staff inspect, on average, just 0.1 percent of them.

He said officials taking bribes to assess lower taxes, or outrightly using their positions to extort money from importers, were the other major problems.

Customs district collectors earn the equivalent of just $1,140-1,600 a month, according to the bureau, but their jobs are highly sought after because of the lucrative

corruption opportunities they offer.

Sevilla joked that the bribery is so rampant and well-known that corrupt traffic police regard customs officers as great targets for bribes. “The police will say your racket is even more lucrative than ours, so you must pay up,� he said.

Part of Sevilla’s clean-up strategy is old-fashioned internal law enforcement.

Sevilla has placed 65 customs personnel under investigation for irregular import transactions, and another was banished to a far-flung port over persistent allegations of wrongdoing, aides said.

Sevilla is also seeking to expand the 3,600-member bureau by 1,000 staff, while bringing in new senior officials and rotating personnel in key posts so they cannot build corruption networks.

But he said the key to overhauling the agency was building transparency by bringing its outdated or non-existent computer networks into the 21st century.

Sevilla, who has a Master of Public Affairs from Princeton University in the United States, has begun publishing every single trade transaction on the bureau’s website.

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UPAAGLA welcomes UP Eng’g Dean Dr. Aura C. Matias The University of the Philippisnes Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) headed by its president, Vicky Achacoso-Gancayco had a reception for UP College of Engineering Dean Dr. Aura Castillo-Matias at the Malburg Atrium of Woodbury University in Bur-

bank recently..

Woodbury University, whose current president, Dr. Luis Ma. Calingo, a UP alumnus himself, provided the perfect venue for the visiting Dean’s presentation on the current status of the UP College of Engineering and an update on significant

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infrastructure developments of the college.

The program started with an invocation by Ray Reyes, followed by the collective singing of the “Star Spangled Banner” and “Lupang Hinirang” led by Annie Nepomuceno and a welcome address by venue host, Dr. Luis Ma. Calingo.

The guest speaker was introduced by Arnel Joaquin, M.D. (UPAAGLA President-elect) in the absence of President, Vicky Achacoso-Gancayco. education, research, technology innovation In a powerpoint presentation entitled and service and it has the following mis“Towards a National Center of Excellence sion: knowledge, to nurture honorable & in Engineering & Technology Innovation,” excellent engineers and future leaders with Aura C. Matias, Dean of the UP College global perspectives and aspirations for the of Engineering (UPCOE) discussed top- nation; progress, to generate knowledge ics such as: the role of the UP Colllege and produce innovations that address chalof Engineering under the new UP charter, lenges in sustainability, safety and security, the state of the College of Engineering and health and quality of life; service, to serve its role in S & T Education and National the evolving needs of society through proDevelopment, its long-term development active interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral goals and invitation for support. initiatives.”

“The UP System was established on Dr. Matias, further informed us that June 18, 1908. Currently, it has 7 constitu- the UP College of Engineering promotes ent universities throughout the Philippines further education as a graduate university, and 1 autonomous college in 15 campuses. having established the National Graduate The new UP charter declares it as the na- School of Engineering (NGSE), which curtional university and Diliman is its main rently have 15 Master of Science Programs campus and the College of Engineering is and 7 Doctor of Philosophy Programs. For the largest unit in UP Diliman.” students who wish to further their studies in Under the new UP charter, the role of their particular field of interest, the masters the UP College of Engineering defines its programs include: Master of Engineering vision as “a global leader in engineering in IE, Master of Engineering in EE and Doctor of Philosophy in EE. In 2012, the UP COE was awarded the “outstanding institution of the year” by the National Regulatory Commission of the Philippines (NRCP) designating it as a research university , particularly in engineering - it promotes multi-disciplinary research programs geared toward the manufacturing sector which influences the areas of” energy, semi-conductor and electronics as well as environmental infrastructure. Its research development programs become instrumental in establishing government regulatory groups such as the National Hydraulics Research Center (NHRC), the National Center for Transportation Services (NCTS), and the National Center for Hybrid Geodesy & Photogrammetry (TCAGP) Board.

Currently, the UP College of Engineering is the largest college within the UP system with around 5,000 undergraduate and 800 graduate students and 255 faculty members. The areas of engineering education includes: Chemical Engineering, Institute of Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical and Electronics Institute, Geodetic Engineering, Industrial & Operations Research, Mechanical Engineering and Mining, Metallurgical & Materials Engineering.

Though the UPCOE stresses academic excellence, it promotes school activities and various student particpation such as: Indakan, Jammeng’g, Awitan, Lantern Parade, Arbor Day or Tree Planting, dorm painting, etc. They also compete in International competitions such as the Bosch Kart Competition where they have won 2nd place in 2011 in Kuala Lumpur.

In an effort to assist assist students in enrolling in the UP COE, the UP system has established a socialized tuition and financial assistance program, where they now have 140 COE scholarships available.

The UPCOE has also established partnerships with various government agencies and fortune 500 companies to assist their students upon graduation.

Local and international fortune 500 companies include:Oracle, Bechtel, Chevron, Motolite, Samsung, Telus, Monrovis/Cat, Petron, etc.

Various buildings have also been built recently to assist in UPCOE’s ongoing infrastructure development such as the Electrical and Electronics (EEEI) annex building, Information Technology & Development building, Dept. of Chemical EnSee MYRNA, page 12

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Senior citizen client seeks Chapter 7 relief Solon wants age bracket of taxpayers’ dependents Client is a woman who is 72 years old. She worked as a mental health therapist for 40 years since she was actually a physician abroad. She was happy doing her job helping people to get their sanity back on track. She married her co-employee and they had two children. After 20 years, husband told her he wanted a divorce. Client thought she had a perfect marriage because they had never argued about anything. In fact, she

even gave up her own religion.

She converted to her husband’s religion He’s had offers for half his former salary so and raised their children as Muslims. She he’s still looking around for a comparable learned to prepare “Halal� food for her job. His wife decided to leave him when husband. She traveled with her husband he lost his job for his former boss who dito Mecca and became “Hajih.� vorced his wife of 30 years to marry son’s By all standards, she was happily mar- wife who was also 15 years younger than ried. She never asked her husband why he he. If you have the love of a good and faithwanted a divorce. But after the divorce, ful woman, consider yourself fortunate. husband remarried a Muslim woman, who Client’s other son is 38 years old and has was 15 years younger than client. Was this just gotten married to a 20-year old Thai the will of “Allah� that she would lose lady. The son lives with his Thai wife in her husband to a younger woman after Chang Mai trying to make money from she renounced her own God to serve “Al- a small business making handbags. Cash lah?� I can only say that client certainly flow is very weak, so client has to send has the training to heal her own mental second son $500 a month so he can pay health given her occupation and academic his rent and monthly expenses in Thailand. background.

Client will do a Chapter 7 to get rid of Let’s look at her financial situation. She credit card debt of $100,000 and to disowns a house with a fair market value of charge the voluntary return deficiency on $500,000. She took a reverse mortgage of the Honda Pilot estimated to be $12,000. $300,000 two years ago on the house. She Client had no use for the SUV since she doesn’t have to pay the monthly mortgage did not have any deliveries to make, and of $2,700 under the terms of the reverse she needs to send 2nd son $500 a month mortgage but she now owes $330,000 on it. so he can survive in Thailand with his new When she stopped working, she decided to bride until their handbag business is strong be part of a multilevel networking business, enough to give them at least cash profit of which required her to purchase inventory $1,000 monthly so they can survive. So, of $100,000. She used her credit cards to at the age of 72, client will obtain a fresh buy the inventory but found out that she start in life with no debt, keep her house could not sell the merchandise. So now with equity of $170,000, and her fully paid she is stuck with the merchandise which Camry. Since she does receive a pension of is worth 10 cents on the $ in a fire sale $2,900 and does not have to pay monthly and $100,000 of credit card debt which mortgage with the reverse mortgage, she needs a minimum of $3,000 a month to can retire in peace with a comfortable cash keep current. flow and no debt.

She receives net pension of $2,900 “The peace of God, which transcends monthly and a car payment of $500 for all understanding, will guard your hearts a 2013 Honda Pilot, which she bought and your minds in Christ Jesus.� Philipintending to use it to deliver the merchan- pians, 4:7. dise. She has a 2005 Camry, which is fully Lawrence Bautista Yang is a graduate paid. Her granddaughter who is 12 years of Georgetown University Law Center and old lives with her as well as her 40-year old has been in law practice for thirty years. son who is divorced. Son is a networking He specializes in bankruptcy, business and IT professional who used to make $80,000 civil litigation and has handled more than a year but the company he worked for was five thousand successful bankruptcy cases bought by another company and he was in California. He speaks Tagalog and terminated in the process of downsizing looks forward to discussing your case with of the new entity. Although son is actively you personally. Please call Angie, Barbara looking for another job, he has not gotten or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointany satisfactory offers that will match the ment at 1000 S Fremont Ave., Mailstop 58, money he was making in his former job. Bldg A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803.

raised to 23 years old in light of K-12 curriculum

MANILA, Sept 4 (Mabuhay) – A lawmaker has proposed to raise the age bracket of dependents of taxpayers to 23 from 21 years old in view of the recently implemented K-12 curriculum which added two years in the country’s educational system.

Rep. Eric L. Olivarez (1st District, ParaĂąaque City), author of House Bill 4788 or the proposed “Act Increasing the Age Bracket of Taxpayers’ Dependents,â€? said income earners in the family would have to sustain the education of their children or immediate relatives, i.e. brother or sister, two years longer than before because of the implementation of the K-12 curriculum.

The K-12 curriculum added two more year levels in the country’s educational system, thus a person affected by said law is now expected to complete his or her educa-

GILAS From page 1

support.

However, the latest loss meant Gilas Pilipinas has been eliminated from joining the Round of 16.

Nevertheless, Coloma said it still has a game versus Senegal, a team that has also been considered an underdog earlier in the tournament but has been winning its games, on Thursday evening. “Sa aking palagay ay dapat pa ring ipagpatuloy ang ating pagsuporta at dapat

pa rin nating ipagmalaki ang Gilas Pilipinas,� the Secretary said.

(I think that we should still continue to show our support and be proud of Gilas Pilipinas.)

He also remained positive about Gilas’ chances in future international meets, citing that the team is set to compete in the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea shortly the Fiba tournament later this month. (MNS)

GENERAL

China. Apparently this is a misguided group,� she said, referring to the Philippines’ territorial dispute with China in parts of the South China Sea. During the press conference, Secretary de Lima said the improvised incendiary device (IID) found inside the suspects’ vehicle could potentially cause a fireball that could be deadly to anyone within five to 10 meters.

She said the fragments could cause injury and be deadly.

According to Vallejo, the IID found at NAIA-3 was to be placed inside the comfort room at the parking area, while the other three were going to be placed at the SM Mall of Asia.

From page 1

will be detained at the NBI jail, said Rommel Vallejo, chief of the NBI Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division.

De Lima said the group had planned a bombing as early as Aug. 25, National Heroes Day, but it did not push through.

She said the NBI learned of the USAFFE’s plan on Sunday night via an informant.

Citing initial investigation by the NBI, she said the group claims to be “defenders of the Filipino people.� “They want this administration to espouse a tougher stand in this dispute (with)

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dressed with the launching of major projects that are being implemented by using

Hanapin si

the public-private partnerships mode,� he said during a press briefing. (MNS)

tion at age 23 on the average, instead of 21 according to him. “Because of this, it is only proper to amend the pertain sections of the National Internal Revenue Code which provides for the age limitation of household members who may qualify as dependents in order to avail of tax exemptions, if only to avoid defeating the purpose and wisdom of these specific provisions of the NIRC,� said Olivarez.

Olivarez, vice chairman of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, said the NIRC provides for certain tax exemptions to income-earning individuals, and the wisdom of this is to avoid unreasonably burdening a person who has to provide to a number of household members who are unable to support themselves just yet.

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Extreme dry spell not just a local concern If the facts following do not jolt the senses of Californians into taking drought seriously, maybe nothing else will.

The Golden State, now on the third year of one of the worst droughts in the past century according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, has 82 percent of it in extreme or exceptional drought compared with 28 percent at the beginning of the year. The situation brings with it the obvious risks of wild fires and crop losses

and surfaces the utter need of the state and localities to prepare for extreme 17,100 jobs already lost. weather conditions.

The impact of the recurring water lack Agriculture in the Central Valley, where should have been greater had it not been half of the country’s fruits and vegetables for underground water being pumped to are grown, has felt the effects of the augment water supply for agricultural drought. A billion dollars worth in revenues purposes. Problems are expected to arise has already been lost in the industry that with underground aquifers being tapped used to rake at least $45 billion and some at unsustainable rates with the situation

being likened to a savings account where everybody withdraws from with no one making deposits.

No one is in a position to know whether this situation will end soon or last for many years. And hopes for El Nino to come to the rescue to stop the drought is fading.

Meanwhile, the common problem has resulted in some palliative measures on the part of local governments. In Anaheim, the local City Council has approved a mandatory water use restriction measure which focuses on outdoor conservation in compliance with the State Water Resources Control Board’s emergency drought regulations.

Under the water conservation measure, Anaheim residents have been prohibited from watering of outdoor landscapes or turf that cause excess runoff, using a hose in washing motor vehicle (except where the hose is fitted with a shutoff nozzle), washing down driveways and sidewalks with potable water except when addressing immediate health and safety need, and using potable water in a fountain or decorative water feature unless the water is re-circulated.

Additionally, two other mandates have been included to achieve additional water savings and this include: landscape irrigation has been limited to before 9:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m. to reduce evaporative water waste except spot watering

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with hose and nozzle or as necessary for irrigation system maintenance and repairs.

Fire hydrant flushing has been eliminated for City hydrants unless the discharged water is captured or reused or the flushing is needed for immediate public health and safety reasons or to ensure compliance with drinking water standards.

The City of Anaheim continues to commit on focusing public education and community outreach “in order to achieve water saving”.

The education component of the water reducing usage has so far encouraged the community at large to do their part during the crisis and has helped reduce the per person water use of the city in the past decade by as much as 22 percent from a peak 114 gallons per day to the present 93 gallons per day. The figures have been reached in spite of the residential customers increasing by 5 percent.

Anaheim’s Turf Removal Program is another indicator of the City’s concerted community effort to save water and has shown significant increase in the number of applicants who want to avail of the program. The city government is offering a rebate of $3 per square foot of turf removed and replaced with California Friendly landscaping or artificial turf. Anaheim Public Utilities has also offered a number of incentives that will help customers save water inside and outside the home or office.

Community College Reaches Out: The North Orange County Community College in Anaheim has reached out to the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County in its effort to spread the advantage of education to the community in a meeting recently between the two organizations’ key officers. Fil-Am Chamber president Rodolfo (Jun) Jao is at extreme right.

Champ Takes a Breather: Boxing Champ Manny Pacquiao takes from his hectic schedule to oblige to a photo of his fans. Manny, a heavy favorite, will defend his title in Macao against a bigger opponent Chris Algieri in November.

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Series for Seniors: Part 3 – Completing the Medicare Puzzle Having just the Original Medicare card is not enough. It does not cover the cost-sharing like deductibles, co-pays and 20% co-insurances. It does not cover prescription drug. It does not have worldwide coverage.

One way to complete the Medicare puzzle is to add a Medicare Supplement plan (Medigap) from work or private insurance to defray these

cost-sharing AND to add a Prescription Drug coverage (Part D). This cost-effective plan, the list of medications means 2 more cards, total of 3 cards. These has to be matched up with the Part D plans.

Another way to complete the puzzle is 2 additional cards have monthly premiums.

Medigap comes in several plans: Plan to have Medicare Advantage (Part C), servA, C, N, K, F, etc. Different insurance ing all the benefits of Parts A and B, helping companies offer different plans. But all cover the cost-sharing, offering worldwide plans are standardized. For example, Plan coverage and in most cases including the F from different companies have uniform Part D, all-in-one card to show the providbenefits. Most plans offer 365 more hospi- ers and pharmacies. This 1 card may have tal days than Original Medicare. All these $0 or more monthly premium.

Different Part C plans offer different plans differ fundamentally in how much cost-sharing they cover and if worldwide benefits. They may include worldwide coverage, dental, vision, transportation coverage is included.

In general, the more expensive plan cov- services, etc. Part C can be PPO or HMO. ers more. Among the plans, Plan F covers But either way, people can only use docthe most. People who use plan F typically tors within the plan’s network. For HMOs, primary care doctors (PCPs) serve like the does not have any co-pay.

People who use Medigap can see any hub giving referrals to specialists and other provider accepting Medicare without providers. Deciding on which Part C to use normally begins with checking if one’s referrals.

Part D plans vary according to premi- PCP is within the network, the hospital list ums and formularies. To find out the most and if one’s drugs are covered.

Pilots, cabin crew ‘twice as likely to get skin cancer’ WASHINGTON, September 3, 2014 (AFP) – Airline pilots and cabin crew are twice as likely to suffer from skin cancer because of regular exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun at high altitude, US researchers said in a study published Wednesday.

Analysis of 19 studies which included more than 266,000 people found that incidence of melanoma was between 2.21 and 2.22 higher for pilots and 2.09 greater for flight attendants, or more than twice the rate of the general population.

The incidence rate was attributed to ultraviolet rays filtering into planes at high altitude through cockpit windscreens and windows on the fuselage, the study’s author said.

Doctor Martina Sanlorenzo, from the University of California at San Francisco, said the study had “important implications for occupational health and protection of

this population.�

The study appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association Dermatology.

Researchers reported that at 9,000 meters (30,000 feet) above sea level, the cruising altitude of most commercial jets, carcinogenic ultraviolet rays were twice as powerful.

The levels were even higher when planes fly over thick cloud layers, which reflect up to 85 percent of the harmful rays back towards a plane.

The research showed that while pilots and flight crew were known to be at risk from ionizing radiation, ultraviolet exposure was not a well-recognized occupational risk.

In 2014, some 76,000 cases of melanoma were diagnosed in the United States, with 9,710 expected to die from the condition.

Author with UPCOE Dean Aura Matias (left) and Dr. Luis Calingo Woodbury University President (right). Photo: Benny Uy

MYRNA From page 8

gineering building and Center for Energy & Environmental Engineering building.

According to Dr. Matias, the UPCOE’s long-term development goals include: increase undergraduate intake by 50%; increase graduate population by 100%; produce approx. 1,000-1,300 engineering graduates per year, 300-400 MS and PHD’s per year; produce at least 100 scientific publications and 10 patent applications per year; international accreditation of all engineering programs in the UP system; upgrade UP’s ranking in engineering education in Asia and the world; and finally, to substantially contribute to the improvement of Philippine Competitiveness Index in the areas of Science & Technology

Infrastructure, Technological Readiness and Innovation.

Finally, Dr. Matias appealed to all of us and all UP alumni inviting us to support UPCOE’s programs in: scholarships, student research & internships, faculty exposure programs, professorial chairs, classroom or laboratory upgrades and teaching & research grants. Those interested to support may send their information to: acmatias@up.edu.ph.

The comprehensive presentation of Dr. Aura C. Matias ended with an overwhelming applause, followed by the singing of “UP Naming Mahal� led by Annie Nepomuceno with the following phrase: “UP naming mahal, pamantasang hirang!.�

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Can you take a nap during your lunch breaks?

Q: I work in a hospital on 12-hour shifts. During my meal break, I sometimes go to our break lounge to take a nap. My supervisor told me sleeping is forbidden. Since it is my 30-minute meal break, I feel that I should be able to spend it however I want. What are my rights?

A: If it is your meal break, you should be allowed to spend it however you want, including taking a nap. Under California law, employers must provide a 30-minute uninterrupted meal period to employees for every 5 hours of work. “Providing” a meal period means the employer must provide an off-duty meal period. “Off-duty” means: Employees are relieved of all duty for an uninterrupted period of 30 minutes Employees are free to leave the workplace if they wish.

Employer gives up control over the employees’ activities during the break.

It can be argued that employers who dictate what their employees should do during their breaks are effectively requiring them to remain “on duty” and must, therefore, pay them. This is exactly what a class of sanitation workers claimed when they filed a lawsuit against their employer the City of Los Angeles.

In 2006, trash truck driver, Jose Gravina, sued the city claiming he was regularly

denied meal breaks and been disciplined for napping during his meal break. In 2011, the case became a class action affecting over 1,000 employees.

The Bureau of Sanitation reportedly imposed the no-nap rule on its workers in an effort to prevent the public or news cameras catching city employees sleeping in their trucks.

The city also prohibited its employees from gathering in one spot for a meal or traveling to locations away from their pickup routes during lunch breaks.

Superior Court Judge John Shepard Wiley, Jr. noted: “The city does impose duties during meal periods: the duties to stay awake and to avoid congregating. The drivers are thus subject to the city’s control during their meal periods.” The Court of Appeal agreed.

If an employer puts any restrictions on an employee’s meal period, the employer is still continuing to exert control over the

employee. If the employee remains under the control of the employer, then the employee must be paid.

After eight years of litigating the case, the city and the drivers have agreed to settle the case for $26 million. The settlement will benefit about 1,100 sanitation workers, with a reported estimated average back pay of $15,000 per employee.

There is a difference between sleeping on the job and sleeping during your legallymandated off-duty break. The first one may get you fired, but the second is your right. If your employer does not seem to understand this distinction, feel free to contact us to

find out if we can help you.

[C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is trial attorney who has obtained several million dollar recoveries for his clients against insurance companies and employers. He has been selected as a Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, featured in the cover of Los Angeles Daily Journal’s Verdicts and Settlements, and is a member of the Million Dollar-Advocates Forum. He is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center Washington, D.C. and the University of the Philippines. Visit his website at www.joesayaslaw.com or contact his office at (818) 291-0088 for a no-cost inquiry.]

Fast food workers arrested in US protests NEW YORK, September 4, 2014 (AFP) – Police arrested at least 44 people Thursday in New York and Los Angeles during protests by fast food restaurant workers demanding better pay and the right to form unions.

Hundreds of protesters converged on Manhattan’s theater and entertainment district as part of a day of nationwide strikes and demonstrations targeting the fast-food industry, according to the site strikefastfood.org.

In Los Angeles demonstrators gathered before dawn outside a McDonald’s restaurant in the south of the city, before a separate protest in downtown LA later in the day, in which 10 people were arrested for failing to disperse.

In New York, about 20 of the protesters staged a sit-in in the street outside a McDonald’s restaurant on Times Square. Nineteen were arrested for disorderly conduct when they obstructed vehicle traffic at that demo.

Later in the day another 15 people were detained, a New York Police Department spokesman said, not specifying where those arrests were made.

The protesters are demanding that fast-food workers’ wages be increased to $15 an hour, more than double the minimum wage of $7.25 an hour paid by many restaurant chains.

They also are pressing for the right to form unions free of retaliation.

Organizers said protests were called in 150 US cities, including Chicago, Detroit, Miami, Denver and Los Angeles.

However, they called off plans for a strike in the St. Louis, Missouri area, the scene of sometimes violent protests after the August 9 police shooting of unarmed black teen Michael Brown in the suburb of Ferguson.

“Given recent events in Ferguson, Missouri and the desire for a sense of peace and normalcy in the community, fast food workers decided not to hold a Thursday strike action in the St. Louis area,” they said.

The movement by fast food workers began in New York in November 2012 and has since spread, but its impact outside the United States has been more muted.

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The truth about your credit and how to improve your FICO scores .Credit history now has never been this important, therefore we should strive to better our credit fico scores now to allow us to get better all around interest rates when borrowing money for a car, revolving debts or a mortgage.

By having a credit score between 580-720 could be a difference of about $1200.00 per month in savings, why? Because if you have lower credit scores your credit card interest rate will likely be above 20%, if you have a mortgage loan and wanted to apply for lien may vary due to State) a loan, your interest rate might be about NOTE: credit do Re-aging, therefore 1.5-3% higher due to your credit history. if they re-age your file, your count starts We are not even talking about how difficult from date reported. it is to get credit.

When you will be able to buy a house A lot of question always is surfacing after certain late failures: about the difference between a Short Sale For Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and A Foreclosure, Bankruptcies, lates Loans: After a Short Sale – need 2 years etc… will finally from the horse’s mouth. with 20% down pay. 4 years wait for 10% What also makes a difference is what your down payment.

Foreclosures: 5 years wait current scores are: For FHA loans: Short Sales - no limit How long will derogatory remarks stay as long as there are not mortgage late paywith you, here are the facts: Late payments, Foreclosures, Short ments within 12 months.

Bankruptcy – 2 years Sale, Judgments, Chapter 13 BK – 7 years Foreclosure – 3 years (depending on Tax Liens, Chapter 7-11 – 10 years (Tax

deficiency judgments) Remember, there is no one size fits all answer, every case is unique but the general guidelines are what I have gathered for you.

How Fico Scores are calculated: Payment history takes up about 35% weight towards getting you a good Fico Score. 15% towards history of your credit, the longer open good accounts, the better, average 19 yrs to get scores above 850.

Amount owed covers 30%, therefore keep your ratio of limit versus debt owed to a minimum, usually less than 35% is my preference. 15% towards inquiries, you can shop around for many loans as long as they are within a 45 day period, your scores will not be affected.

Some advice from experts: • Stop Credit Card Surfing, every time you have a new credit card, your scores will decrease.

Don’t close accounts; keep them open even if they have balances. If you have derogatory remarks on your credit card, closing them would not wash the negative

remarks away.

Re-establishing of credit takes time, but you have to start as soon as you have negative remarks. If you get denied for credit, wait for a while before re-applying.

Always monitor your credit accounts, get free credit once a year.

Here are the websites for you’re to check for different issues: How to get your Free Credit Report: www.annualcreditreport.com (remember not to buy anything just get the free report) How to get your real FICO Scores: www.myfico.com (be careful of all other one, they are called Fakeco Scores) To call for credit counseling: call National Foundation of Credit Counseling, nonprofit – 800-388-2227.

Don’t let your debts control your life!

Step up and fight to get better ratings.

Thanks for all your support and inquiries, please don’t hesitate to call Ken Go of 1st Innovative Finance @ (562) 6977028 or write to kennethgo@verizon.net.

Visit us on Facebook, type 1st Innovative Finance and like us.

Sacramento woman in mortgage found guilty SACRAMENTO, Aug. 29 – After a nine-day trial, a federal jury found Anna Sorokina Kuzmenko, 33, of Sacramento, guilty today of two counts of wire fraud in a mortgage fraud scheme, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

The trial was held before United States District Judge John A. Mendez.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in February of 2007 Kuzmenko served as a straw buyer for a house in Carmichael. She applied for two loans to finance the entire purchase, and falsely represented that she was an orthodontist making $36,000 per month, had $42,000 in her bank account, was a United States citizen, and would live in the house she was purchasing. In fact, evidence

at trial showed that Kuzmenko was not an orthodontist, declared only $13,000 in income for 2006 and none for 2007, had little to no money in her bank account, was not a citizen, and never lived in the house she purchased.

The evidence also showed that although the bank was told the sales price was $1 million, the seller had agreed to receive only approximately $800,000 from the transaction and to give the remaining money back to the scheme participants. Bank records showed that Kuzmenko’s husband and other family members received almost $177,000 through the scheme. Additionally, two of Kuzmenko’s family members received approximately $25,000 in commission payments based on the fraudu-

lently procured loans. Kuzmenko defaulted on the mortgages for the Carmichael house in September 2007 and the property was foreclosed upon by April 7, 2008.

“Mortgage fraud cases can be very challenging, but this office has developed considerable expertise in prosecuting them,” stated U.S. Attorney Wagner. “We are pleased that the jury held Ms. Kuzmenko accountable for her crime, and we will continue our efforts to hold accountable those who enriched themselves through fraud, and who contributed to the financial meltdown that hit our communities so hard.”

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States At-

torneys Lee S. Bickley and Todd A. Pickles are prosecuting the case.

Kuzmenko is scheduled to be sentenced

by Judge Mendez on December 9, 2014.

She faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

reduce. reuse. recycle.

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Parent’s right to change child’s residence to another state in custody cases Parents that are going through divorce and legal separation sometimes have to make a decision to move out of state for various reasons. It may be because their family network is in another state. This decision often have a significant impact on the visitation of the other parent because it would be more difficult for the non-custodial parent to exercise his or her

visitation rights in a frequent and continu- will look at the factors and decide what is ing manner if the custodial parent moves to in the best interest of the child. Custody a different state hundreds or thousands of is usually given to the parent that is more miles away from the non custodial parent. likely to allow frequent and continuing The parent that has Custody of the contact between the child and the other child has a presumptive right to change the parent. On the other hand if there has been child’s residence unless the non custodial a final Custody determination, then the parent can show that the move would be a non-custodial parent would have to show detriment to the child. In cases where there a “significant change in circumstances” to has not been any final custody order, the change the custody arrangement. court has to make a custody determination The Court would then consider certain using “the best interest” standard. Court factors laid out in the case Marriage of

Gigi Reyes asks for use of laptop with wifi in cell MANILA, Sept 5 (Mabuhay) – Pork barrel scam suspect Gigi Reyes, the former chief of staff of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, wants a laptop, Wi-Fi connection and printer in her detention cell at Camp Bagong Diwa, her lawyer said Friday.

Lawyer Anacleto Diaz said they have filed a motion asking the Sandiganbayan Third Division to allow Reyes to have a computer, internet connection, and printer to help them prepare for her defense.

“Nahihirapan kaming mag-prepare. Kahit kayo nahihirapan kahit walang tulong ng computer at saka ng printout at internet,” he told reporters.

“Para makapaghanda kami sa defense namin. It’s not easy. Alam niyo naman na abogado siya,” he added.

The court set the hearing on the motion on September 8, 2015.

Reyes is facing one count of plunder and 15 counts of graft at the Sandiganbayan for the pork barrel scam.

She is accused of acting on behalf of Enrile in identifying the government-owned and -controlled corporations that became the implementing agencies of the bogus projects funded by his Priority Development Assistance Fund (pork barrel).

On Friday, Reyes refused to enter a plea to the graft charges.

She likewise refused to enter any plea last July on the plunder complaint.

Diaz noted that in the United States, inmates, even suspected terrorists, are allowed access to a computer. “Sa America even terrorists, ‘yung mga nakakulong dun sa Guantanamo Bay, inmates in various states in the US are allowed access to computers and internet,” he said.

LaMusga in deciding whether the child would suffer detriment from the relocation and whether a change of custody should be ordered. The La Musga factors which the Court will consider are 1) the children’s interest in stability and continuity in the custodial arrangement; 2) the distance of the move; 3) the children’s age; 4)the children’s relationship with both parents; 5) the relationship between the parents including, but not limited to, their ability to communicate and cooperate effectively and their willingness to put the children’s interests above their individual interests; 6) the children’s wishes if they are mature enough to make that inquiry appropriate; 7) the reasons for the proposed move; and 8) the extent to which the parents currently are sharing custody.

Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.

The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information.

This article is not intended to cover all the

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issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation.

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

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OPINION Why AFP won’t link airport bomb try to terrorists MANILA, Sept 2 (Mabuhay) – The Armed Forces chief of staff refuses to call the foiled bombing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 a terrorist plot, saying it was planned by people who only wanted to seek attention.

“I don’t think it was a terror attack, because you know, they were just firecrackers,” said General Gregorio Catapang.

“I heard it was pla-pla. We were told that there were gasoline containers, but not that big.”

Catapang, however, admits that they had been monitoring the group on and off because they are associated with a man who used to cause trouble for authorities.

“Well, you remember that there was a guy who wanted attention...

He threw some metal spikes along EDSA. These aren’t barbarous acts, but comic relief, maybe. Getting attention.”

Catapang is referring to Ely Pamatong, a man who rose to infamy in 2004 after he ran for the presidency but was declared a nuisance candidate.

After being stricken off the list of candidates, Pamatong’s supporters scattered spokes along EDSA, damaging about a hundred cars.

In 2011, Pamatong and his group called Discovery Crusade of the Philippines “declared war” against China by burning two Chinese flags in front of the United States embassy.

Asked what Pamatong had to do with the arrested group, Catapang said: “I think they were close friends of Pamatong.”

Should naked photo hacking be considered a sex crime?

By Veronique Dupont

LOS ANGELES, September 3, 2014 (AFP) – Already hounded by paparazzi on their doorsteps, celebrities face a new battle to protect their privacy from hackers willing to splash their most intimate behindclosed-doors photos online.

After the massive release of naked photos of stars including Oscarwinner Jennifer Lawrence, some experts said it should be treated as a sex crime, rather than just an Internet or privacy breach.

“We are going through times where hackers will try to seek our information. Celebrities are at risk but also CEOs and politicians,” said Jules Polonetsky, head of the The Future of Privacy think-tank.

It is difficult to know the hackers’ motivation, whether it is to “embarrass women or show off their technical skills,” he said.

“It doesn’t appear that money was the goal,” he said, in contrast to the huge sums that can be made by paparazzi photographers by selling their pictures to tabloid publications.

“There is a natural curiosity about celebrities... The Internet unfortunately breeds some nefarious, immoral behavior,” added one Hollywood agent, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject. For Polonetsky, “this is a sex crime more than a leak” – a view expressed by a number of celebrities themselves on Twitter following the weekend hack.

“Remember, when you look at these pictures you are violating these women again and again...The person who stole these pictures and leaked them is not a hacker: they’re a sex offender,” said “Girls” creator Lena Dunham. The leak of private celebrity images recalls a similar case from 2011, in which a hacker broke into the email accounts of stars including Scarlett Johansson, Mila Kunis and Christina Aguilera.

Chiz asks PNP: What is being done to stop kidnappings?

Senator Chiz Escudero has expressed alarm over the rise in kidnapping cases in the country, as he put to task the Philippine National Police (PNP) to step up its campaign to arrest the perpetrators in order to allay fears of a restive public.

Escudero, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, said crimes brazenly done in broad daylight is an indication of the criminals’ contempt for law and order and a clear mockery of police authorities.

“Why are criminals so emboldened nowadays to perpetrate their crimes in public? Why do these things happen under the noses of our police authorities?” Escudero asked. “I have received feedback from friends who have witnessed kidnappings or relatives of victims who have been subjected to abduction and have paid ransom for their releases.

There’s a segment of the community who is already in panic and there must be a concrete action to abate these crimes and prevent the spread of alarm among the public.”

Recent incidents of kidnap-for-ransom have

been reported with the perpetrators even killing their victims. Last week, Chinese-Filipino businessman Benito Chao was snatched in Bulacan and was found dead hours after. The kidnappers were reported to have asked for a P20-million ransom but a series of negotiations by the family has brought it down to P15 million.

Just yesterday, a photo went viral showing a group of heavily-armed men appeared to be forcing passengers of one vehicle at gun point to get out while in the middle of EDSA. When police authorities arrived, they gunmen were gone.

“These are crimes that do not even hide under the cloak of darkness anymore. It is very disturbing. These are the reported ones, but I am sure there are more which have remained unreported by the victims and their families out of fear of retaliation from their aggressors.

“I ask the PNP to intensify its campaign against criminals and beef up security to protect the public.

The people need to be assured that they can walk our streets to and from their homes,” Escudero said.

US must stay engaged on world stage, top diplomats say

By Jo Biddle

WASHINGTON, September 3, 2014 (AFP) – Veteran US diplomats who have tussled with some of the globe’s greatest foreign policy challenges warned Wednesday that in a turbulent world American diplomacy remains essential for peace and stability.

In a rare gathering, Secretary of State John Kerry hosted five of his seven living predecessors for a State Department ceremony to break ground on a new $25 million museum dedicated to the work of America’s foreign service.

“The essence of diplomacy is to build permanent relationships,” said Henry Kissinger, the doyen of American foreign policy who played a role in the opening up of communist China during his years as secretary of state from 1969 to 1977.

“It is essential to create confidence so when the difficult issues come up and... decisions have to be made, there is a basis on which minds can be made (up),” the still-sprightly 91-year-old told the gathering.

“It is essential for diplomacy to deal with people before you need them, so that they have faith in what you are saying when you do need them.”

He was speaking as President Barack Obama has come under fire for a piecemeal foreign policy which critics say has failed to deal with the upheavals of the Arab Spring – including the ensuing civil war in Syria and the growth of Islamic militant movements in the Middle East.

Hillary Clinton, who had the tough job of rebuilding the US global image after the presidency of George W. Bush, stressed: “At a time when there are those who wonder about our role in the world, this center sends an important –indeed, an indispensable – message: that diplomacy and development are the heart of America’s leadership.”

“No matter what political upheaval or crisis the world faces, diplomacy never sleeps,” agreed James Baker, 84, who was the top US diplomat from 1989 to 1992.

“During tough times like today, as crisis brews in Ukraine, the entire Middle East burns, tensions rise in the Far East and terrorism grows stronger not weaker, diplomacy is going to play an important role in peacefully resolving many of the challenges that we face,” Baker argued.

“As a result, the better educated that Americans are about this nation’s diplomacy the more effectively our leaders can engage on the world stage to find sound solutions.”

Kerry, Kissinger, Baker and Clinton were also joined by Madeleine Albright and Colin Powell.

‘American DNA’ The museum, which will be a state-of-the-art glass pavilion providing a public entrance to the State Department in downtown Washington, will house exhibits tracing the history of American diplomacy and how it has shaped the country.

It will remind us “of the great diplomats in our past, and it will remind us as well... of the importance of diplomacy in our future,” said Baker.

Kerry argued that the lessons of the past warned against any move towards isolationism.

“I can tell you for certain, most of the world does not lie awake at night worrying about America’s presence. They tell me that they worry about what would happen in our absence,” Kerry said.

“So as we write the next chapter of American diplomatic history, as we think about how tomorrow’s diplomats will fill the exhibit halls of this museum, we have to remember: engagement and leadership – not retrenchment and isolationism – are the American DNA.”

Obama’s daunting bid to build an anti-IS front

By Stephen Collinson

WASHINGTON, September 4, 2014 (AFP) – It is one thing for President Barack Obama to propose an international coalition to “destroy” Islamic State.

It is another to build it in the Middle East, scorched by sectarianism and raging proxy wars, with American credibility eroded by misadventures in Iraq and where allies bristle at what they view as Obama’s misfiring diplomacy.

But the president is promising action.

“What we’ve got to do, is make sure that we are organizing the Arab world, the Middle East, the Muslim world along with the international community to isolate this cancer,” he said in Estonia Wednesday.

Islamic State’s lair in Syria and Iraq has alarmed

the region and may already have jumbled political calculations.

Iran for instance pulled support for Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Iraq’s post-electoral chaos, after his sectarianism was blamed for the rise of IS. In a rare meeting last week meanwhile two top foreign ministry officials from Saudi Arabia and Iran met in Jeddah –enemies converging in a sudden flurry of diplomacy spurred by the crisis.

As it searches for its own strategy, Washington has played on anxiety among regional powers.

“It is very clearly in the interest of Iraq’s and Syria’s neighbors, even those Sunni countries, to not have a violent, extremist organization wreaking havoc in their neighborhood,” said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

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In search of a good leader The presidential election is still two years away, but the people are already excited about electing someone who can pluck the country from its present economic stagnation and institute meaningful reforms in government.

Sad to say, however, the Filipino people are still left with little or no choice at all in searching or choosing for a true and honest leader from the crop of current presidential candidates.

Most of these politicians, if not all of them, aspire to become president only sor Santiago and Ferdinand “Bongbong� because they are driven by greed, power Marcos are also contemplating of running and lofty ambitions, rather than improving for the highest office in the country. the lives of millions of destitute Filipinos.

Except for Senators Marcos, Santiago Hopefully there will be somebody out and Roxas, all the other presidential aspithere who will come out and emerge as a rants have been accused of corruption for fair and honest leader who will work for the allegedly receiving hundreds of millions of good of our country as well as the welfare pesos from the government’s Disbursement of every Filipinos.

Acceleration Program (DAP) funds and Leading the pack of presidential wan- the questionable manner on how they disnabes are Vice President Jejomar Binay, persed it. The Supreme Court has recently Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Senators ruled that the DAP was unconstitutional.

Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes Hundreds of millions of pesos coming IV. Latest reports coming from Manila out from the DAP funds were said to have stated that both Senators Miriam Defen- been used to bribe senators and congress-

men for the impeachment of former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

At present, Vice President Binay is the subject of a Senate inquiry concerning the alleged P2.3 billion overpriced car park building constructed during his stint as Mayor of Makati. Binay has also been accused so many times in the past of amassing so much wealth during his 19year reign as mayor. Many are saying that among the present presidential candidates, Binay is the only one who can easily put up a P6 billion campaign kitty to finance his election campaign. Where did he get all that money is still anybody’s guess.

Senators Trillanes, on the other hand, has been pointed to as one of the first bribe takers who got P50 million from DAP. I am really disappointed with this person.

He who once projected himself as an honest naval officer when he and his 321 fellow soldiers staged a mutiny in July 27, 2003 to protest pervasive corruption in the Macapagal-arroyo administration is probably a thief, a liar and a bootlicker himself!

In the case of Senator Cayetano, both he and his wife, Maria Laarni Cayetano,

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are facing graft and corruption charges for the questionable use of the legislator’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). He is accused of misusing his pork barrel funds that was released to him from 2007 to 2009, as well as the purchased of overpriced multi-cabs for the City of Taguig in 2012. His mayor is one of his co-respondents in the questionable sale of the overpriced multi cabs.

So come election day in 2016, the voting public must choose carefully and be wary of these politicians facing corruption charges. These tainted politicians are like virus which slowly destroys the system with their venomous acts. They should not be allowed to hold any lofty positions in government. The voting public must exercise their right of suffrage to prevent corrupt politicians from being elected in public office. They should also cast their vote based on their conscience and belief in the person they are voting for.

Binay camp: Where’s the evidence of rigging?

MANILA, Sept 5 (Mabuhay) – A spokesman of Vice-President Jejomar Binay described as a “kangaroo court� yesterday’s Senate hearing after a former Makati official accused Binay of corruption without presenting any evidence.

Cavite Governor and vice presidential spokesman for political concerns Jonvic Remulla said engineer Mario Hechanova did not give concrete proof or evidence to back his claims that the bidding for the Makati City Hall building 2 was rigged. “Hechanova was given the widest leeway to malign the name of the Vice President without any evidence. The words of a former city official who admitted rigging bids were taken as gospel truth by Senators Antonio Trillanes and Alan Cayetano and

milked for whatever ounce of opportunity to malign the name of the Vice President,� he said in a statement.

In an earlier interview, Remulla also said Hechanova has links to former Makati Vice-Mayor Ernesto Mercado who has also testified against Binay.

The spokesman said Mercado hired Hechanova to become the head of the general services office of Makati in charge of procurements. “Tao ni Mercado. We discovered that they put up a company called Twin Leaf Marketing, which cornered all the supply contracts of Makati. At that time, the de factor mayor was Mercado and the GSO was Hechanova and they did all the biddings and they did all the business,� he said.

He also said it was later discovered that Mercado “owned Twin Leaf.� “He bought the company. He was always part of it. There are documents to prove it. Eventually they found the collusion and they fired him. And then the vicemayor ran for mayor and he lost,� he said. “[Binay] fired Hechanova after he discovered the collusion in the bidding process,� he added.

In his testimony, Hechanova, the former head of Makati City’s general services department and vice chairman of the bids and awards committee, claimed he was ordered by then-city Engineer Nelson Morales to rig the bidding for the project.

He said Morales was relaying the instructions of Vice-President Jejomar Binay.

Pilipino po tayo!

LAW OFFICES OF

KENNETH U. REYES, P.C.

An Expert Immigration Attorney for All your Immigration needs

* Certified Family Law Specialist The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization

- Certified Family Law Specialist - Certified Public Accountant (Inactive) - J.D. Southwestern University Law School, Los Angeles, CA - B.S. Accounting, California State University, San Bernardino, CA

*Kenneth U. Reyes, Esq. CFLS

CALL OR E-MAIL FOR AN APPOINTMENT

213-388-1611 or

kureyeslaw@gmail.com

Approvals are what we get from Immigration Services for our clients WE SPEAK TAGALOG MANDARIN, CANTONESE & FUKIENESE

Atty. Dixon Wong

S P E C I A L I Z E S FAMILY LAW • Divorce • Community Property Division • Child Custody and Spousal Support • Domestic Violence Restraining Order • Legal Separation and Nullity • Parentage • Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

IMMIGRATION • Marriage Petitions • Relative Petitions • Removal of Conditional Green Card • Humanitarian Reinstatements • Child Status Protection Act Issues • Deportation Defense • Employment based Petitions and PERM • H-1B Visas

LAW OFFICES OF

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ESTATES AND TRUST • Living Trust • Wills • Probate • Conservatorship

CIVIL LITIGATION • Contract Disputes • Business Disputes • Corporate and Partnership Disputes

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www.kenreyeslaw.com kureyeslaw@gmail.com

• All types of Non-Immigrant Working Visas • Extension and Change of Status Application • PERM (Labor Certification) • Immigrant Visa Applications • Green Card through employment offer • J Waiver Application • Family Petitions • Registered Nurse and Healthcare Professionals Visa Applications • Exchange Visitor, Student & FiancÊ(e) Visa

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• Mandamus • BIA and Federal Court Appeals • Criminal Defense for Green Card Holders and Non-Immigrants • Asylum Application • Deportation and Removal Proceedings • Adoption Petitions • Naturalization Applications and Appeals • Green Cards through Investor Visas • Battered Spouse Applications

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Call To Schedule a Free Consultation:

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Office Hours: Monday - Friday • Saturday by Appointment

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Understanding Medicare Part A (Why it is important for those turning 65 to seek enlightenment on their Medicare) Part A takes care of in-patient hospitalization, skilled nursing facility, home health, and hospice care expenses.

If you have made a total of 40 quarters’ contribution to Social Security, you get a lifetime premium-free Part A. If you have not completed the 40 quarters, see your Social Security guy in one of their offices close to where you live. You

may have to pay something to enjoy your Part A benefits. reserve day�, up to a maximum of 60 days Medicare Part A allows members 90 over a member’s lifetime. days limit per hospital stay. The first 60 Medicare does not pay for everything. days, No Coinsurance. 61-90 days, co-pay Members have their share of cost. If you of $304 per day. 91 days and beyond, a develop a catastrophic illness that requires Coinsurance of $608 per each “lifetime a hospital stay for an extended period,

17918 Pioneer Blvd., #211 Artesia, CA 90701

you are in to a potential of huge medical expenses – out of your pocket.

There are ways to protect yourself: Apply with Medi-Cal. If you qualify, Medi-Cal will help with these expenses.

Purchase a Medicare Supplement Plan (MediGap or MedSupp). These plans require a monthly premium. And, they are not guaranteed-issues, unless you meet certain conditions.

Enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C). Offered by private health insurance companies approved by Medicare, these plans are mandated by law to provide you no less than the benefits you currently enjoy under Part A & Part B. Most plans in Southern California have “0� premiums.

What plan fits you? That depends on your particular circumstances. “Different folks, different strokes�.

For such an important treasure as your Medicare, you need to spend some time to

study and understand. Your Medicare will be the guardian angel that will watch over your health during your lifetime.

If you need help, you may call me at 323-535-7373 or e-mail at: leo.balita@ gmail.com.

Obamacare Alert: Do you know that you get free health insurance thru MediCal if your expected income for 2014 is below $16,000 (single) or below $22,000 for married couple? If you were such person, I can enroll you at Covered CA anytime, all year round.

Leo Monsalud hails from Sta. Cruz, Zambales. He studied for his MBA and Law at the University of the Philippines.

He worked for UNILAB where his last position held was vice-president assigned as general manager of a division. He was a joint-venture partner of the San Miguel Corporation in an agri-business project.

He holds CA license 0G55218. He offers help at no cost or obligation to anyone.

(562) 484-6414 560 N. Arrowhead Ave., Ste. 8A

San Bernardino, CA 92401

(909) 888-6118 ASSISTED CLIENTS FROM OVER 50 COUNTRIES SINCE 1993 Edmund Anciano is an attorney admitted to practice before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Board of Immigration Appeals. He is authorized by Federal Law [US Code of Federal Regulations 8 C.F.R. 1.1(f)] to represent persons in all 50 states before the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. His law practice is limited to Immigration and Nationality Law. He is not an attorney licensed to practice state law in California but is an attorney licensed in New Jersey. Edmund Anciano received his bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s University in Pennsylvania. He received his law degree from Rutgers University

FREE PARKING

WE ACCEPT MAJOR CREDIT CARDS Photo above shows (from left) Ms. Grace Gonong, Ms. Diana Gonong, Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim, Ms.Darna Umayam, Architect Fernandico Gonong.

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Diana Gonong pays courtesy call on ConGen Lim Los Angeles, 03 September 2014 – Ms. Diana Gonong paid a courtesy call on Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim at the Philippine Consulate General on 02 September 2014.

OTIS Architecture/Landscape/Interiors student Diana Gonong is one of two winners of the Angelo Dongha Foundation in its 2014 Student Scholarship Program in Interior Design. Her winning entry, the Chopping Block is a renovation of the former Santa Fe Freight Depot building in downtown Los Angeles into culinary community lofts.

The Chopping Block includes private living units for aspiring professional chefs, a roof-top organic farm, and a shared dem-

onstration kitchen located in the center of the building.

The Angelo Dongha Foundation, a privately held not-for-profit organization, has announced twelve winners of its 2014 Student Scholarship Program in Interior Design. Launched in 2002, the Foundation awards scholarships to deserving students who are entering their senior year in a Baccalaureate Degree Program in Interior Design. This year’s winners were selected from sixty student projects submitted by accredited institutions (2 entries per institution). Each student winner will receive up to $30,000.00 scholarship grant to be applied to his/her senior year tuition, board, maintenance and books.

Water police on patrol in drought-scarred Los Angeles

By Guillaume Meyer

LOS ANGELES, August 31, 2014 (AFP) – Los Angeles isn’t the world’s wettest city at the best of times. But a record drought has triggered extra measures – noBw including “water police� checking on over-zealous sprinkler users and the like. The Water Conservation Response Unit is a five-strong team from LA’s Department of Water and Power utility, who aim to “educate customers about the importance of practicing water conservation.�

The unit’s director Enrique Silva patrols the sprawling metropolis’s neighborhoods in an ocean-blue car, looking for people wasting water. “We will look for people irrigating on the wrong day, especially the one thing we’re looking for is water running in the

street, run-off,� he told AFP. “It can be for any different reason, usually from irrigation being on too long.�

California is in the grip of its third year of severe drought, the worst in decades, threatening to drain underground aquifers and leaving the taps of some 40 million people to run dry.

Los Angeles has introduced measures to incite people to save water, including giving money to those who replace their lawns by plants more adapted to desert climes and less water-hungry, such as cacti.

But given the urgency, the DWP has also slapped restrictions on users including banning householders from watering their gardens every day or from doing so on the same spot for more than eight minutes, among others.

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FOOD & DINING FAMILY FEATURES

T

ea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world next to water. In fact, on any given day, more than 158 million Americans drink tea. Approximately 85 percent of tea consumed in America is iced, but the soothing and refreshing flavors of tea can also infuse fresh and unexpected character into a wide range of dishes, from desserts to popular finger foods like chicken wings.

What’s more, tea has been shown to have significant health benefits. As green, black, oolong and white teas all come from the Camellia sinensis plant, tea drinkers can reap the health benefits from whichever tea they prefer. The major bioactive compounds in tea, called flavonoids, are also found in fruits and vegetables but appear in very high concentrations in tea. In fact, new research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition links tea with cardiovascular health, cancer prevention, weight management, improved concentration and bone health, among others.

Delightful Tea Pairings Each type of tea has a distinct set of flavor characteristics. Peter Goggi, President of the Tea Council of the USA, explains the flavor profiles of black, green, oolong and white teas, and how to pair them with your favorite foods.  Black teas from traditional origins such as India, Sri Lanka and China, as well as English and Irish breakfast varieties and flavored black teas such as Earl Grey, are characterized by a strong, aromatic flavor. These teas pair well with dark chocolate, sharp cheeses, eggs, meats and heartier foods because of their rich flavor and tannin levels.  Green teas, such as Sencha and Jasmine, have a more delicate flavor profile, characterized as grassy or citrusy, and pair well with subtly flavored foods, such as seafood, rice and vegetables.  Oolong teas, such as Wuyi Shan and Pouchong, are characterized by a slight smoky flavor and a sweet, nutty finish. These teas pair well with spicy or smoky foods, seafood dishes and fruit.  White teas exhibit a natural sweetness and lightness; the subtle flavors pair well with mild tasting sweets or simple salads that don’t overpower the flavor of the tea.

Start sampling the many flavors of tea with these recipes, and visit www.TeaUSA.org for information about the role of tea in a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Darjeeling Tea Bark Servings: 8 1 pound finely chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate 2 tablespoons coarsely ground or crushed Darjeeling tea leaves Line baking sheet with parchment or silicone baking mat.

In top of double boiler over low heat, melt chocolate, stirring frequently, until 3/4 chocolate pieces are melted, only slightly warm to the touch. Remove pan from heat.

Tea-Grilled Chicken Wings with Hot Green Dipping Sauce Servings: 6 5 tablespoons black tea leaves,

Stir in tea leaves; continue stirring until chocolate is melted and tea is evenly distributed.

Pour mixture onto baking sheet and spread evenly to 1/8-inch thickness. Let come to room temperature, allowing bark to solidify, about four hours. When set, break into pieces.

Store in airtight, covered container at room temperature.

Recipe courtesy of Culinary Tea by Cynthia Gold, copyright © 2010. Reprinted by permission of Running Press, a member of The Perseus Books Group. divided 1 1/2 cups boiling water (212°F) 1/2 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce 3 tablespoons Asian fish sauce (such as Nam Pla)

Refreshing Iced Tea Servings: 4–6 1 quart fresh, filtered water, cold 8 –10 black or green tea bags Bring filtered water to a full boil in teapot. Remove from heat and add 8–10 tea bags per quart. Steep for three to five minutes and pour over ice cubes or into additional cold water, based on desired taste.

To serve, pour into tall glasses filled with ice; garnish with lemon or mint and sweeten as desired.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images Recipe courtesy of the Tea Council of the USA 3 tablespoons Asian chili sauce (such as Sriracha) 3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil 2 tablespoons minced garlic Freshly ground black pepper, to taste 18 large chicken wings, washed and dried Place three tablespoons tea leaves into small bowl and add boiling water; steep six minutes.

Strain tea and discard used tea leaves. Cool to room temperature and hold.

In spice grinder or with mortar and pestle, finely grind remaining tea leaves to dust.

Transfer to medium stainless or glass bowl, along with soy sauce, fish sauce, chili sauce, oil, garlic and pepper. Mix well. Pour in reserved cooled tea and mix.

Cut off tips of chicken wings. Cut wings into two parts at joint, place in resealable plastic bag and pour tea-based marinade over wings. Seal well and mix to coat completely.

Refrigerate overnight before preparing, turning bag every 12 hours.

To cook, remove wings from refrigerator and bring to room temperature. Remove wings from bag and discard marinade. Drain very well.

Preheat grill to medium. Grill wings until cooked through on both sides and juices are running clear, about six to eight minutes per side.

Serve Hot Green Dipping Sauce on the side.

Hot Green Dipping Sauce Servings: 6 2 cups fresh basil leaves 3/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves 2–4 jalapenos, seeded and deveined 1/3 cup unseasoned rice vinegar 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil Fine sea salt, to taste Ground black pepper, to taste Place basil, cilantro, jalapenos and vinegar in bowl of food processor. Pulse until smooth.

With motor running, slowly pour in oil until smooth and incorporated. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, scrape down sides of bowl and pulse again. Place in covered container and chill until ready to use.

Recipe courtesy of Culinary Tea by Cynthia Gold, copyright © 2010. Reprinted by permission of Running Press, a member of The Perseus Books Group.

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1/3 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup flour Place crust in 9-inch pie pan and crimp edges. Use dried beans to weigh down bottom. Bake crust for 10–15 minutes, or until crust is lightly browned.

Mix all filling ingredients together and put in crust. Using hands, mix crumble ingredients until in pea-sized pieces. Top apples with crumble. Don’t worry if sky high, apples will cook down and pie will be perfectly proportioned.

Bake at 350°F for 40–50 minutes.

Keep edges covered with foil until last 15 minutes. Garnish with chopped peanuts.

FAMILY FEATURES

I

Easy PB & J Breakfast Tarts

n kitchens, cafeterias and restaurants nationwide, our local food preferences may be unique, and our culinary traditions may be diverse, but we all share a common bond: a love for peanut butter.

“Affordable, nutritious and of course delicious, peanut butter is a staple found in most American homes,” said Leslie Wagner, executive director of Southern Peanut Growers. “While some parts of the country prefer their foods hot and spicy, others prefer savory or sweet. But no matter where you go, families love making peanuts or peanut butter a key ingredient in their favorite recipes.”

To celebrate the unique flavors from coast to coast, and to find the best hometown PB recipes, Southern Peanut Growers conducted its first “PB My Way” regional recipe contest.

Peanut butter lovers nationwide submitted their recipes, from spicy stuffed peppers inspired by the Southwest to decadent chocolate bars in the Northeast. These are the top regional PB-powered recipes in our “United States of Peanut Butter.”

For more recipes, visit www.peanutbutterlovers.com.

Carolina Dreaming Appetizer Meatballs

Nutty Jalapeno-Chicken Stuffed Peppers Recipe contributed by winner Lori M., Southwest region Servings: 12 peppers 12 large jalapeno peppers, split open (not all the way through) and seeded 1/2 cup peanut butter 1 cup shredded cooked chicken 1 3-ounce package cooked bacon pieces 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1 cup crushed cornflakes Preheat oven to 350°F. Place peppers in medium bowl and cover with boiling water 2 minutes. Drain and pat dry.

In medium bowl, mix together peanut butter, chicken, bacon and cheese. Fill each jalapeno with mixture. Smear each pepper with a little mayonnaise and roll in cornflakes in shallow dish to cover.

Place jalapeno on non-stick baking sheet.

Bake in preheated oven until golden, about 15–20 minutes.

After School Peanut Butter Apple Pie Recipe contributed by winner Alisa L., Midwest region 3 tablespoons flour Servings: 8 pieces 1 teaspoon lemon juice Prepared pie crust Crumble: Chopped peanuts (optional) 3/4 cup rolled oats Filling: 1/4 cup butter 7 apples, peeled cored and sliced 1/4 cup peanut butter 2/3 cup sugar

Servings: 8 tarts 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour 6 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon sea salt 2/3 cup shortening 6 tablespoons peanut butter plus 4 heaping teaspoons for filling (1/2 teaspoon per tart) 1/2 cup cold water 5 tablespoons jam (strawberry works well) Drizzle option 1: 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1 tablespoon jam 1 tablespoon milk Drizzle option 2: 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1/4 teaspoon strawberry extract, optional 1 tablespoon milk Preheat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl mix together flours, sugar and sea salt.

Using pastry cutter, cut-in shortening and peanut butter, until mixture resembles small peas. Drizzle mixture with cold water until mixture is moist and holds together. Roll out on floured surface to at least 1/16th of an inch thickness.

Using 3-by-5-inch index (recipe) card for template, cut into sixteen 3-by-5-inch shapes. Re-rolling works fine. In middle of eight shapes, smear 1/2 heaping teaspoon peanut butter and heaping teaspoon of jam on top. Be careful not to go to edges. Using fingers, wet edges with water and place another piece of pastry on top. Press all sides well, and using fork press all edges to secure. Using fork, gently poke tops in four places so steam can escape.

Place inch apart on parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 13–14 minutes until starting to brown around edges. Cool on rack.

Whisk together drizzle of choice in small bowl. Drizzle over cooled tarts.

Note: This pastry is very user-friendly and delicate. Freeze tarts up to one month and defrost at room temperature before serving.

E. Gladstone St.

S. Azusa Ave

Recipe contributed by winner Janice E., Southeast region Servings: 24 meatballs 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/4 cup fig preserves 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon minced or grated fresh ginger 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper 1 1/4 pounds ground turkey 4 green onions, finely chopped (including green tops) 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley 1 large egg 1 teaspoon salt Diced green onion tops or chopped parsley (optional) Preheat oven to 425°F. Whisk together peanut butter, preserves, Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice until well blended.

Add ginger, black and red pepper, mixing well. Reserve.

Place approximately half peanut butter mixture into mixing bowl (reserve remainder for later). Add turkey, green onions, parsley, egg and salt to mixing bowl and mix lightly but thoroughly.

Roll mixture into 1-inch balls and place 1 inch apart on lightly greased, rimmed baking sheet.

Place into oven and bake for 15 minutes.

Remove pan from oven and brush tops of meatballs with remaining peanut butter mixture.

Return pan to oven and bake for about 5–8 minutes more, or until nicely browned.

Remove from oven. Arrange on serving plate and sprinkle with diced green onion tops or parsley, if desired.

Note: Use with decorative toothpicks placed in each meatball for easy consumption.

Recipe contributed by winner Susan M., West region

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Credit cards can keep you trapped in debt forever Do you wish you had less credit card debt than you currently owe? Have you charged more than you can afford to pay? Are you frustrated with the fact that your balances never seem to go down after having paid religiously for years? Do you feel hopelessly trapped in credit card debt?

Credit cards are one of the easiest debts to obtain. Every year, the credit card companies send millions of solicitations in the mail, offering consumers “pre-approved” credit cards and credit line increases. Recently, a 72-year old senior citizen came to my office and told me that he had just been “pre-approved” for a credit card with a $12,000 credit limit. All he had to do was sign his name on the form and send it back. The problem is that this person has been living on social security for the last 6 years and has no more than $1200 per month in household income.

How in the world can someone who has had no more than $1200 a month in household income for the last 6 years qualify for a $12,000 credit limit? But the more

important question is: “What was the credit card company thinking when they sent this “pre-approved” credit card to a person with very limited financial means? Where is the accountability here? Something is wrong with this picture.

I understand the need to handle credit responsibly. But when someone of limited financial resources is given an opportunity to spend their money (using a credit card) BEFORE THEY EVEN EARN IT, this can likely lead to FINANCIAL DISASTER! I make no excuses for anyone but the credit card companies should also take part of the blame because of their irresponsible lending practices.

And, of course, the outrageous interest rates on these credit cards are unbelievable.

I had a couple in my office last week who hired me to help them do a Chapter 13 debt

consolidation. My calculation showed that they would be debt-free in only 3 years and would only need to pay half of their total debt. Without Chapter 13, however, it would have taken them 32 years to pay off their total debt and would have paid more than $191,000 in interest alone over the next 32 years!!!!! Isn’t that ridiculous? A lot of people owe so much on their credit cards that they will never pay off what they owe in this lifetime! The sad thing is that THEY ARE NOT EVEN AWARE OF IT. Every month, they struggle to pay the minimum and don’t even realize that they WILL NEVER BE DEBT-FREE. Lastly, a lot of people often “juggle” credit cards by using credit cards to pay other credit cards. Don’t be foolish. It is impossible to borrow your way out of debt. Much sooner than you think, you will be buried alive in debt. This strategy has never worked and never will.

If you are in debt, what you need is a debt repayment or elimination strategy that works. Find a way to reduce your expenses and use the money you save to pay your debts more aggressively. In some cases, selling unproductive assets may help. If your accounts are already in collection, debt settlement for less than full amount may be an option. For example, my office

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regularly settles debts for about 20-60% of the original amount.

Finally, remember that you have rights under federal bankruptcy law as a consumer that can help you either wipe out your debts completely or at least consolidate all your debts into one affordable monthly payment. After being a bankruptcy attorney for 9 years now, I find that most of what people have heard about bankruptcy is simply wrong. There is a lot of misinformation out there about bankruptcy these days and the people that are getting hurt are the people who desperately need debt relief. If you are one of these people, you need to find out for yourself what your legal options are by consulting with a knowledgeable and experienced bankruptcy attorney who can evaluate your case and recommend possible solutions. Don’t wait until things get worse.

For attorney free consultation, call TollFree 1-866-477-7772. We have offices in Pasadena, Valencia and Cerritos.

(None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped more than 5,000 clients get out of debt. To schedule a free attorney consultation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-888-224-7224 or 1-866-477-7772.)

California to be first US state to ban plastic bags LOS ANGELES, September 5, 2014 (AFP) – California governor Jerry Brown said late Thursday he will approve a ban on single-use plastic bags, in what would make the western US state the first to outlaw them.

Lawmakers passed the bill late last Friday, and it now only requires Brown’s signature to pass into law. The governor must do so before the end of September.

“I probably will sign it, yes,” Democratic veteran Brown said during a televised debate with his Republican election rival Neel Kashkari, who is trailing badly in opinion polls.

“In fact, I’ll tell you why I’m going to sign it: there are about 50 cities with their own plastic bag ban, and that’s causing a lot of confusion,” he said, cited by the Los Angeles Times and other media.

He added: “This is a compromise .. It’s taking into account the needs of the environment, and the needs of the economy and the needs of the grocers.”

Under the Californian legislation, single-use plastic bags would disappear from grocery stores and pharmacies from July 1, 2015, and then from convenience and liquor stores from July 1, 2016.

The bill would allow stores to charge 10 cents for paper or reusable bags. Similar bans, backed by environmentalists, are already in place in cities including Los Angeles and San Francisco.

A ban is opposed

by Republicans who say it would be too much government meddling for small and medium sized businesses, and by bag manufacturers who fear job losses.

Kashkari – who latest polls indicate trails by 50 percent to 34 percent for the November 4 gubernatorial post – said he opposes the legislation.

“No chance would I sign that bill,” he said in Thursday’s debate.

Legislators in California sent a clear message to the plastics industry last month when the State Senate passed SB 270 with a 22-15 vote to ban single-use plastic grocery bags.

Environmental groups and local government advocates have overcome fierce lobbying by single-use bag manufacturers, intensified in the last few months of session, to reach this point. Senate Bill 270

by Senators Padilla, de León and Lara, passed off the California State Assembly Floor yesterday on a 45-31 vote, after falling three votes short of passage earlier this week. The bill now advances to the Governor’s desk for a signature. Governor Brown has until the end of September 30th

to take action.

California Against Waste said the California State Legislature is the first in the nation to approve a plastic bag ban, and environmental leaders expressed elation after a decade-long fight over the issue.

Mark Murray, Executive Director of the bill’s sponsor, Californians Against Waste, stated, “The State Legislature spent a great deal of time debating the merits of this issue over the last several months, and especially this week.

In the end, it was the reports of overwhelming success of this policy at the local level that overcame the political attacks and misinformation from out-of-state plastic bag makers.”

This issue has been a top priority for the environmental community, and the bill is supported by a diverse group of stakeholders, including grocers, retailers, food workers, waste haulers, local governments, and several in-state bag companies.

SB 270 prohibits grocery stores, drugstores, and convenience stores from distributing single-use plastic bags, going into effect first in large grocery stores in July of 2015. Stores can sell paper, durable

reusable bags, and compostable bags with a minimum charge of 10 cents each. The 10 cent charge is to encourage consumers to bring their own reusable bags. The bill also seeks to protect and create green jobs by creating standards and incentives for plastic bag manufacturers to transition to making reusable bags.

Currently, 124 cities and counties in the state have adopted a local bag ordinance, covering 35% of the population. SB 270 provides a uniform, statewide solution to the rest of the state, modeled after the local ordinances already in place and successfully implemented.

“We no longer have to speculate on whether bag bans are good policy. For nearly 10 million Californians, life without plastic grocery bags has been a reality in their communities for at least a year. Bag bans reduce plastic pollution and waste, lower bag costs at grocery stores, and now we’re seeing job growth in California at facilities that produce better alternatives,” said Murray, who has been working on the issue for over a decade at both the local and statewide level.

Californians Against Waste is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving resources, preventing pollution and protecting the environment through the development, promotion and implementation of waste reduction and recycling policies and programs.

Clinton says will decide White House run early 2015

By Laurent Thomet

MEXICO CITY, September 5, 2014 (AFP) – Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said Friday she would likely decide whether she will join the 2016 presidential race early next year.

Clinton, who lost the Democratic presidential nomination to Barack Obama in 2008, is widely expected to make another run for the White House.

“I will be making a decision around probably after the first of the year about whether I am going to run again or not,” the former first lady said in Mexico City at a forum hosted by the Telmex Foundation of Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim.

“It’s a very serious undertaking, so obviously I’m thinking about it, but I have not

made a decision yet,” said Clinton, who has previously indicated she would not make an announcement this year.

She was speaking just as a potential rival in the 2016 election, New Jersey’s Republican Governor Chris Christie, wrapped up a three-day visit to Mexico to burnish his foreign policy credentials.

Christie met Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto earlier in the week, while Clinton held talks with the Latin American leader on Friday.

At the Telmex event, Clinton said her experiences as first lady, senator and secretary of state have given her a “unique vantage point” about “what makes the United States operate well and what doesn’t, and what a president can do and

should be doing.”

Speaking to 10,000 young Mexicans who have received Telmex Foundation scholarships, Clinton shared her life experiences but also briefly touched on world affairs, voicing concern about Russia’s role in the Ukraine conflict.

“I do worry about President Putin’s view that Russia should dominate its borders and intimidate people beyond its borders, using gas and oil as a weapon even, as we are seeing now with Ukraine, military force,” she said.

“It is very important that Europe remain whole, stable and at peace and that Russia be persuaded or somehow convinced, even coerced, into looking toward the future, not the past,” said Clinton, who

served as the top US diplomat during Obama’s first term between 2009-2013.

Before her appearance, Ukraine and pro- Hillary Clinton Moscow rebels signed a ceasefire agreement in Minsk, raising hopes for an end to the five-month war that has left about 2,600 people dead.

Obama, speaking at the end of a NATO summit in Wales, said US and European Union sanctions against Russia over the crisis would likely remain in place despite the ceasefire, but could be lifted if the truce holds.

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This will not be my last music fest

By Pia Cabanela

I have been writing professionally for 14 years now and music has been a tool at times to surpass deadlines when brain farts or to sound more intellectual, writers’ block, gets the better of you, just as I struggled to compose this article. Luckily, my membranes swayed to Swedish band’s Sigur Ros to gather my thoughts.

To quote Marilyn Manson, “Music is the strongest form of magic.” It is a very profound description as to how music is perceived and festivals become a welcoming floodgate for one to experience just that.

My first music festival here in the US is the F*ck Yeah Festival held at the Los Angeles Sports Arena last August 23 and 24. It was a two-day event featuring sixty bands playing at four stages. From the young to old, the odd and eclectic, the strange and the normal were there, wide-eyed and gleaming with excitement. From afternoon to midnight, my friends and I clicked our heels from one stage to another.

I didn’t want to have any expectations for my first. I wanted it to be a cultural awakening I have longed for…that magical interjection from live music every living person should experience when you close

your eyes to let the music fill the air you breath that gives you goose bumps. I was only sure of two things I needed to do: wear comfortable shoes and hydrate.

Walking to hear our first choice of band, we passed the stage where rap music was blasting. I must admit it is not my cup of tea, but to my surprise, I was not easily flummoxed as I always am when I hear it someplace else – like in somebody else’s car on the freeway. That day, I was flying high as a kite with my festive spirit in tow, in awe of people’s ability to harmoniously come as one for a common passion.

When the bands I favored played, my friends and I were at the mosh pit. I was oblivious to the sweat or the heaves of men next to me, I was in my own bubble, raising my hands up high and screaming like a hyena. Standing elbow to elbow next to strangers, you’ll be compelled to introduce yourself, that feeling that you just shared an intimate moment with them. I don’t even know why I was jumping to songs I am hearing for the first time, but the crowd’s energy will ignite you to do so.

These events bring the rocker, dancer, and lovers in us. The electrifying sense of leela. Plus, it gives you comical and memo-

The writer at the FYF, Los Angeles Sports Arena on August 23-24, 2014.

rable things people say. Now, I am no way promoting, but in one hilarious moment there was these four older men next to me smoking weed, a young man approached them who obviously knows them. He asked something which I couldn’t hear but one of the father’s retort was side-splitting. He goes, “Yes, my son lets me smoke pot, so get over it and let me enjoy Built to Spill.”

Vulgar to some maybe, but to me it was a clear indication what these festivals are for.

...and with her friends at the festival.

I realized people don’t come here to just hear music, they came to bond through it.

To somehow close the gap of indifferences amongst generations, at least for two days.

And hurray to these bands who make the stagnant days of our lives bearable.

May it have been Haim, Phoenix, the Strokes or Chet Faker who moved you that day, but yes, it’s not cliché to call it magic.

I bought a ticket to listen to seven bands and closed the experience loving six more.

Fil-Ams in the forefront of International Diversity Festival

By Dan E. Nino

Artesia, Calif. – All roads will lead to Pioneer Blvd. between 183rd and 188th streets in Artesia, California on Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. to a historic 2014 International Street Fair, Diversity Festival and Expo where products and merchandise from different cultures will be showcased.

This was announced by Felix B. Lopez, president of Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce (FACC-SEC) and Eddie C. Ferrer, president of Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA in collaboration with the City of Artesia, Artesia Chamber of Commerce and Coalition of Associations of South East Corridor (CASEC).

Aside from exotic goods, products and merchandise, the public will be treated to entertainment and music, parade, multicultural food, beer garden, fun and cultural shows, among others on Pioneer St. which will be closed to traffic. Parking is available on the periphery of Pioneer Blvd. A shuttle bus courtesy of the City of Artesia will also ferry the public from end to end of Pioneer Blvd. on the corner of 183rd and 188th streets.

The 16 ethnic cultures which are prime movers of the organizing committee are the Philippines, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Croatia, India, Japan, Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan, Portugal, Korea, Sri Lanka

and Vietnam.

The public can do shopping with an array of goods and merchandise from hundreds of vendors and exhibitors from around the world including the Philippines.

Producers and manufacturers from the province of Pangasinan will take part in this International Street Fair and Diversity Festival where their products will be displayed.

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. of Pangasinan has mobilized the Pangasinan Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to participate in this signature event. He said in his letter to PB-USA President Eddie C. Ferrer, “With the strong support that the Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA has committed, we are inspired to work harder for the attainment of our vision and mission for a more progressive Pangasinan. We look forward to a more-lasting and productive partnership with PB-USA. Fifteen manufacturing companies from Pangasinan are expected to put up booths with products like dried and pickled mangoes, peanut brittle and chocolates, boneless bangus, fashion accessories, bamboo crafts, woodcraft and wooden products, fish sauce (bagoong), guyabano tea and dragon fruit, doll carriage, toy chest and hampers, handicraft and handmade products, furniture and coffee tables, buri bayong, native flower decors and braided

Celebrating Artesia’s Cultural Diversity: Photo shows the prime movers and shakers of the signature event. Seated are CASEC Chairman Felix B. Lopez, Artesia Councilman Ali Sajjad Taj, Artesia Mayor Tony Lima, Artesia Councilman Victor Manalo, Waqar Ali Khan, chairman and founder of Pakistan American Chamber of Commerce, Parimal Shah, president of Artesia Chamber of Commerce, Maya Bristow, CEO of the Croatian Cultural Center and Eddie C. Ferrer, president of Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA (extreme right standing). In background are supporting cast of this event from various ethnic groups and cultures. For more information, interested parties may call Felix B. Lopez at 562-402-1737 or fblopezinsurance@msn.com Photo: Ding Carreon

bamboo products.

Philippine Consul General of Los Angeles Leo M. Herrera-Lim and Officerin-Charge of the Department of Tourism in L.A. Manny Ilagan had endorsed this one-day festival during a courtesy call with FACC-SEC and PB-USA convenors at the Philippine Consulate.

Artesia, a tiny city of 1.6 sq. miles with a population of over 17,000 is a melting pot of diverse nationalities wherein 48 differ-

ent languages are spoken as a primary and secondary language. Artesia Mayor Tony Lima, whose city is a staunch supporter of this festival said, “We need to have this festival as a prelude for better things to come. I see it as an investment.”

For more information, interested parties may call Felix B. Lopez at 562-402-1737 or fblopezinsurance@msn.com or Eddie C. Ferrer at 562-841-5381 or edrenjac@ aol.com.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Daily exercise keeps the heart strong and thriving: study (Relaxnews) – While an apple a day can’t hurt, Swedish researchers say more than an hour of moderate exercise per day or more than a half hour of vigorous exercise can keep the doctor away by reducing the risk of heart failure by 46 percent.

“You do not need to run a marathon to gain the benefits of physical activity – even quite low levels of activity can give you positive effects,” says Kasper Andersen, M.D., Ph.D., study co-author

and researcher at Uppsala University in Sweden.

Dr. Anderson and his team observed the total physical activity of 39,805 healthy people aged 20 to 90 years old beginning in 1997. Participants allowed researchers to access their medical records to confirm hospitalizations, diagnoses and other factors that would affect results.

Lifestyle was self-reported and participants filled out questionnaires in which

they were asked about tobacco, alcohol and medication use in addition to both job and leisure-related physical activity.

The team found that the more active a person, the lower their risk for heart failure, and results indicate exercise is equally beneficial for men and women.

Those who exercised the most during leisure time – beyond the hour of moderate exercise or half hour of vigorous activity prescribed in the study – were 46 percent

less likely to develop heart failure.

Casual walking was considered “light” leisure exercise, jogging or swimming was considered “moderate” and competitive sports fell under the “heavy” category.

“Our research suggests that everyone could benefit from getting out there and moving every day,” said Dr. Andersen.

The study was published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Heart Failure.

For a healthy, sun-kissed glow, you might want to choose the broccoli. ©Okssi /shutterstock. com

Fruits and vegetables could make you more attractive to others: study (Relaxnews) – The vernacular of today’s beauty buzz is riddled with words and phrases about staying young, but the idea of “carotenoid coloration” means little to most people, although it’s exactly what you’re probably looking for.

It’s that sexy, healthy glow that comes from eating five servings of fruits and vegetables per day and an innovative study says it has a more powerful effect on attractiveness than a sun tan, also called “melanin coloration.”

“Skin coloration can arise as a result of two distinct processes: Through tanning (melanisation) or the assimilation of fruit and vegetables (carotenoid ingestion),” say the researchers, who conducted three separate internet studies comparing people’s responses to the aforementioned.

In the first two studies, researchers worked with a group of 60 participants who were shown 27 composite faces whose skin tones spanned the axis of carotenoid or melanin-associated derma colors.

Participants were shown high- and low-

pigment versions of each face and asked to say which one they found more attractive, and results indicated an overwhelming preference for strong color values.

In the first study, 86 percent of participants preferred the look of the high-carotenoid face and 78.5 percent preferred the high melanin version in the second study.

The third study pitted carotenoid against melanin and resulted in a 75.9 percent preference for high carotenoid coloration.

The study, which was published in the journal Taylor & Francis, expands on findings about carotenoid coloration that came to light in a 2011 study by the University of Nottingham.

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COMMUNITY

Remittances from Fil-Ams a big boost to PHL economy “The 3.5 million Filipinos in the US and the 850,000 in Canada send nearly $13 billion – or more than half of the approximately $25 billion – of global, cross-border remittances sent annually to the Philippines,” Kumar said.

“Transfast delivers a large percentage of these remittances making the company a significant player in the Philippines economy,” he added. “Transfast has a 25-year commitment to the well-being of

The Philippine economy grew by 6.4 percent during the second quarter of 2014 also because of the millions of dollars that our kababayans, especially those in the US, have been sending home says Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Remittances from Filipinos in the United States and other parts of the world helped the Philippines regain its position as Southeast Asia’s best performing economy during the first semester of the year.

“The Philippine economy grew by 6.4 percent during the second quarter of 2014 also because of the millions of dollars that our kababayans, especially those in the US, have been sending home,” Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. said after the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) announced the good news.

“Our diaspora plays a very important role in the economic transformation now taking place in the Philippines,” Ambassador Cuisia said as he paid tribute to the 3.5 million members of the Filipino-American Community who consistently account for more than half of the total remittances the Philippines receive annually from abroad.

Citing NEDA figures, Ambassador Cuisia said remittances by overseas-based Filipinos reached a new high for the year in June when inflows went up by 5.9 percent to $2.050 billion that month, raising the total for the first half by 5.8 percent to $11.422 billion.

“Our economy is performing well as result of a stronger industry and services sector and robust remittances from overseas Filipinos,” Ambassador Cuisia said.

“This should make the Philippines more competitive and more attractive to inves-

tors, particularly those in the US.” Ambassador Cuisia cited the improved performance of the Philippine economy in urging a group of businessmen in New York to consider doing business in the Philippines.

“It is important to point out that the emergence of the Philippines as “Asia’s New Emerging Tiger” is a strong demonstration of a tipping point phenomenon – the results of transformational leadership changes and policy reforms introduced in almost 30 years,” Ambassador Cuisia told businessmen at the Harvard Club during a luncheon co-hosted by Samish Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of Transfast, a leading international money transfer company and Peter Tichansky, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Business Council for International Understanding.

“With all this dynamism and optimism, I hope your interest in the Philippines will continue,” Ambassador Cuisia told the group that included senior-level executives involved in financial services; consumer goods; pharmaceuticals; equipment manufacturing; communications; and law and government.

In response, Kumar said his company, which operates a proprietary network of over 200,000 payment points across more than 100 countries in the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Africa, will continue to be a major player in the remittance sector in the Philippines.

St. Louis University Alumni celebrates Journey On Nov. 8 Baguio City-based Saint Louis University alumni members and friends worldwide has slated a grand reunion on Nov. 8, 2014 (Saturday) from 6 p.m. to midnight billed Journey to the Past and the Future at Harrahs Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

A registration fee of $110 per person must be pre-paid and payable to SLU Reunion. Payments should be mailed to SLU Alumni Assn. c/o Michael Montemayor, P.O. Box 7151, Mission Hills, CA 91346. Attire is semi-formal.

Purple & Hearts Band, a popular band in Los Angeles will provide music and entertainment. Former SLU instructor and Baguio City broadcaster Eddie C. Ferrer will host the festivities.

St. Louis University was founded in 1911 in Baguio City by the Belgian CICM fathers as a Catholic institution. The Philippine government granted its university status in 1963 and became a leading Catholic university in Northern Luzon. As Msgr. William Brasseur, former Vicar Apostolic of the Montanosa on the granting of the school its university status stated; “May the light of Saint Louis University shine as the Light of the North. May its alumni, through their intellectual standing and Christian formation, be the leaders of Baguio City and the whole of Montanosa.

Inquiries, reservation, souvenir program ads and payment may contact Henry Fine at 949-683-1869 or henryfine@yahoo.com; Mike Montemayor at 818-6872534 or michaelm@datalinknetworks.net; and Larry Caguioa at 760-207-1887 or caguioa@hotmail.com.

Please visit its website: SLUAlumninternational.org. (Dan E. Nino)

Filipinos, wherever they may be across the globe. We are proud to be a contributor to the health and growth of the Filipino economy.”

In July, Transfast expanded to over 20 banks the instant bank deposit service for money transfers to the Philippines that it first launched in 2009. Kumar said this makes Transfast the only remittance company that offers instant deposits to most Philippines banks.

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LAW OFFICES OF LARRY BAUTISTA YANG

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Bobby T. Rimas reelected UCLA Pilipino Alumni Scholarship Director On August 29th, the UCLA Alumni Affairs, Diversity Programs announced that Bobby T. Rimas was reelected as the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Association Scholarship Director. In this position, Mr. Rimas is responsible for raising and collecting scholarship donations, coordinating Bobby T. Rimas the application process, and overseeing the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Scholarship Committee who is responsible for developing the selection criteria, coordinating the logistics of scholarship awards, and selecting award recipients.

The UCLA Pilipino Alumni Association Scholarship Program usually culminates in the awarding of both the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Endowment and private scholarships at UCLA Pilipino Alumni’s annual scholarship benefit. To date, the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Association has awarded over 100 scholarships.

A UCLA graduate, Mr. Rimas began teaching in July 2008 at West Los Angeles College as an Adjunct Faculty Member. In April 2011, he was awarded the academic rank of Adjunct Assistant Professor. During his time at West Los Angeles College, he taught Introduction to Law & the Legal Profession, Legal Writing, Introduction to Civil Litigation, and Legal Research classes. In June 2014, Mr. Bobby T. Rimas began teaching Immigration Law at California State University, Los Angeles, College of Professional and Global Education as an Associate Professor. Mr. Rimas is also a Paralegal at OneWest Bank’s Legal Department in Pasadena, California. If you have any inquiries regarding UCLA Pilipino Alumni scholarships or contributions towards the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Endowment, please contact Mr. Rimas at Bobby.Rimas@alumni.ucla.edu.

El Monte small business seminar offers millions in tax relief Sacramento – On Tuesday, September 9, 2014, California State Board of Equalization (BOE) Chairman Jerome E. Horton will host the free El Monte Small Business Seminar to provide small-to-medium-sized businesses with information about millions of dollars in tax credits and refunds and business loan assistance. Attendees will learn about traditional and nontraditional access to capital and have complex tax laws simply explained, plus have the op-

portunity to meet their elected representatives who make decisions that affect small businesses.

The seminar will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the El Monte Community Center, Grace T. Black Auditorium, 3130 Tyler Avenue, El Monte, CA 91731.

Check-in for the event begins at 8:00 a.m.

You may register for the seminar online at www.boe.ca.gov/seminars or by calling 1-888-847-9652.

Senator Ed Hernandez, City of El Monte, and the El Monte/South El Monte Chamber of Commerce are co-sponsoring the seminar and encourage local entrepreneurs to attend and make the most of this opportunity that could help them expand and maintain their businesses.

“Our aim is to educate California small business owners about various financial resources, as well as tax credits and exemptions that can assist them in starting or expanding their small businesses,” said Chairman Horton. “It’s important for business owners to build relationships with decision makers and each other to position themselves for success.”

If you want to learn more about the impact of legislation, policy and procedures at the BOE, visit www.boe.ca.gov, or plan to attend one of the upcoming Small Businesses Seminars held throughout Los Angeles County and speak directly to a BOE representative. Elected in 2010, Chairman Jerome E. Horton is the Fourth District Member of the California State Board of Equalization, representing more than 8.5 million residents in Los Angeles County. He is also the Board of Equalization’s Legislative Committee Chairman.

Divine Savior Rosary Group anniversary celebration Sept. 27 A friendly reminder to our members, family and guests to attend our Divine Savior Rosary Group Anniversary Celebration on Sept. 27, 2014, at the Club House of Manny and Offie Garcia at 16443 Murphy Road, La Mirada, CA 90638. Check in time is 10:30 a.m. Rosary will start at exactly 11 a.m., followed by lunch, singing and dancing. For more information, please contact Rey S. Ponio (909) 597-4452 or E-mail reysponio@yahoo.com

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ENTERTAINMENT

Cristine, boyfriend talk about settling down Amid the growing list of celebrities who are ready to walk down the aisle, actress Cristine Reyes maintained she is not yet engaged to her non-showbiz boyfriend.

Reyes, however, revealed that she and her boyfriend are already talking about settling down. “Hindi pa po [ako engaged], pero may mga plano na po. Hindi ko pa alam, hindi

ko pa masasagot ‘yan ngayon. Next time na lang,� she said.

Reyes thinks both of them are already at the right age to start their own family. “I’m 25 na. I think right age naman na ‘yun. He’s 30,� she said.

The actress also noted that they have the same faith, which she considers an important factor in keeping their relation-

Cristine Reyes

ship strong.

In a previous interview, Reyes reported that she is happy with her love life but requested for privacy. (MNS)

Sam on Shaina: Our friendship has gotten really nice Sam Milby denied that Piolo Pascual was the reason why he opted not to court Shaina Magdayao two years ago, when he first admitted that he admires the actress. “Walang dahilan‌ it’s hard to explain. I guess yung tension siguro, yung mga times na nag-hang out kami, we didn’t have a chance to really talk kasi laging kasama yung mga kaibigan din. Ako, nahihiya din ako,â€? he said. “It’s funny kasi dati sinabi ko na gusto ko siya ligawan. Actually at that time, two years ago, nothing happened. We didn’t get to hang out, we didn’t get to talk. So it’s nice na nung nag-hang out na kami with common friends, it started off na no pressure at all. Our friendship has gotten really nice,â€? he added.

Last week, Magdayao revealed that she is currently seeing Milby and they have gone out to some group dates. “We’ve been seeing each other. Magkakasama kami with our other friends and non-showbiz friends. Maybe because I have time right now and he has time right now. But courtship? Maybe siya na lang ang tanungin niyo at pangit naman na sa babae manggaling,� Magdayao said.

When told about Magdayao’s remark that he should be the one to talk on whether he is pursuing the actress, Milby said: “First off, kung gusto kong ligawan or meron akong dine-date, parang ayaw ko rin sabihin kasi parang kapag sinasabi ko, parang hindi siya nangyayari.�

Shaina

As to the question if they are indeed dating, the “Dyesebelâ€? actor said: “You know what’s nice? We have the same group of friends, showbiz and non-showbiz friends. Madalas kami nagha-hang out‌ Pero kung nagde-date kami, never pa kami lumabas na kaming dalawa. So hindi kami nagde-date. We are always with our group of friends.â€?

While she got romatically linked to Pascual, Magdayao’s last public relationship was with actor John Lloyd Cruz.

Milby, on the other hand, last dated actress Jessy Mendiola. (MNS)

MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST FOREVER.

Daniel on Heart: I knew we’d never get back together While it came to him as a surprise, Daniel Matsunaga was not hurt to find out that Heart Evangelista had just been engaged, saying he has long accepted there was no longer a chance for them as a couple.

The Brazilian-Japanese model learned of Evangelista’s engagement to Sen. Francis “Chiz� Escudero during a party celebrating the final night in “Pinoy Big Brother.�

Escudero proposed to Evangelista just a night before Matsunaga was proclaimed winner of the ABS-CBN reality show.

Matsunaga was asked if he was hurt over the news of the engagement, which generated buzz online and made headlines over the past weekend.

Matsunaga answered: “Not really, not really. Because for me, I knew that me and Heart would never get back together. By that time... But I’m really happy, because we’re still friends, you know.� “Everything is doing really well, with her career also, to my career, so I’m really

happy that we ended up good friends,� he said.

Citing “cultural differences,� Evangelista confirmed her breakup with Matsunaga in April 2012 after more than a year of being a couple. At the time, the actress had just spent a vacation in Matsunaga’s hometown in Brazil. She stressed, however, that his family was kind and accommodating to her.

Evangelista, 29, and Escudero, 44, became officially a couple on July 30, 2012, but the senator only confirmed that status of their relationship in October that same year. “I’m really happy for her. I’m really happy for her and Chiz,� Matsunaga said. “They deserve each other. They look good [together]. I’m sure Chiz will take care of her. He’s a really nice guy. I met him already.�

The 25-year-old added: “With all my respect, they’re great. I wish them luck and everything good in their marriage.�

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PRAYERS

PRAYERS

PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT Holy Spirit Thou who make me see everything and show me the way to reach my ideal, You who give me the divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me and who are in all instances of my life with me. I, in this short dialogue, want to thank You for everything and con¿rm once more that I never want to be separated from You no matter how great the material desires may be. I want to be with You and my loved ones in Your perpetual glory. Amen.

A person must pray this for three consecutive days without stating his wish. After the 3rd day the wish will be granted, no matter how dif¿cult it may be. Promise to publish this as soon as your favor has been granted. Grateful Thanks -M P.Z.

PRAYER FOR SAINT THERESE Oh Glorious Saint Therese, whom Almighty God has raised up to aid and counsel mankind, I invite your miraculous intercession. So powerful are you in obtaining every need of body and soul, Our Holy Mother Church proclaims you a "Prodigy of Miracles". Now fervently beseech you to answer my petition: (mention here) and carry out your promise of doing good upon the Earth of letting fall from heaven a shower of roses. Henceforth, Dear Little Flower, I will ful¿ll your plea "to be made known everywhere and I will never cease to lead others to Jesus through you. Amen (Say prayer every day for 9 days. By 4th day, you will see a rose in a magazine, TV picture or receive roses. You can also get strong scent of roses in home even if no roses present. Must promise publication. Thank you. -JOY

PRAYERS PRAYER of ST. JUDE Most Holy Apostle, St. Jude faithful servant and friend of Jesus.

The church honors and invokes you universally as the Patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me.

Make use, I implore you, of that particular privilege given to you.

To bring visible help, where help is almost despaired of. Come to our assistance in this great needs that we may receive the help of heaven in all our necessities, tribulations and sufferings particularly [please mention intention]...that I may praise God with you and with all the elect, forever. I promise, blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor.To honor you as my most powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you, AMEN. -JOY

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Kathryn Bernardo ventures into music Dubbed local showbiz’s “Teen Queen” for her consecutive successes on TV and the big screen, Kathryn Bernardo is looking to expand her career with the upcoming release of her debut album.

According to Bernardo, she finished recording the album with six songs and a number of bonus tracks. She is set to shoot the album cover this week.

“Tutok talaga ako dito,” Bernardo said.

“Binigay ko ang 101% ko dito sa album na ‘to, so sana abangan niyo at magustuhan niyo.”

She cited as inspirations American pop stars Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande. Lo-

cally, Bernardo said she considers Sarah Geronimo and Yeng Constantino as her music idols.

Bernardo has already recorded a song before: “Ikaw Na Nga Yata,” which is featured in the local airing of the Korean series “Pretty Man.” It is unclear, however, if it will be one of the tracks in her debut record.

Asked why she decided to come up with an album, the 18-year-old actress said: “Kasi, of course, ilang years na sa teleserye. Gusto ko rin naman maging open sa iba-ibang mga puwede kong gawin. Like, pag may chance so hosting or sa singing,

[gagawin ko]. Para hindi ka lang sa isang genre.”

Bernardo was last seen in the box-office hit “She’s Dating the Gangster,” opposite consistent “love team” partner Daniel Padilla. On television, the two last co-starred in the primetime series “Got to Believe,” which concluded in March.

Following the success of their latest film, Bernardo said she and Padilla will be doing separate projects. She revealed that she will top-bill a “Wansapanataym” miniseries, which will run for a month, but said the rest of the cast members cannot be announced at this time. (MNS)

Kathryn Bernardo

Coco happy being single, denies dating KC

Coco Martin

Actor Coco Martin laughed off rumors that he has supposedly been going out on dates with his “Ikaw Lamang” co-star KC Concepcion.

Martin stressed that he is just friends with his TV series co-star, whom he finds humble and easy to like.

He added, “Sana magkaroon ng time lumabas, pero sa ngayon sabi ko nga masarap siyang katrabaho.”

Asked if there’s any possibility that his relationship with Concepcion could go beyond friendship, Martin answered, “Hindi ko pa alam eh, siguro masyado pang maaga para magsalita about diyan.”

On being paired with her, Martin revealed, “Nung una may takot ako kasi KC Concepcion ’yan eh tapos ’di ko in-expect na ganun pala siya… Napakabait pala niyang tao.” Still, the 32-year-old actor said that he cannot commit to a relationship for

now due to his hectic work schedule.

“Masaya kahit single kasi medyo busy din naman ako at gumagawa pa ako ng direksyon para sa sarili ko,” he said.

For her part, the 29-year-old actress has only good words about Martin.

Aside from describing him as “very gentleman,” Concepcion added that he is, “sobrang maalaga. As in to the point na tuwing tatayo ako, tuwing uupo ako, nakaalalay siya. Hindi ko alam kung may radar siya or something…”

For the first time, Martin has worked with Superstar Nora Aunor in the yet-tobe-released film “Padre de Familia.”

“Napaka-importante sa akin ng proyekto na ito, kasi siyempre Ms. Nora Aunor ito,” he said.

“Padre de Familia,” Aunor’s first cinematic collaboration with director Adolf Alix, Jr., is a domestic drama that also features Joel Torre, Rosanna Roces, Anita Linda, Joem Bascon, Baron Geisler, Manuel Chua and Miles Ocampo. (MNS)

Vina, Robin reunite for ‘Bonifacio’ biopic Robin Padilla: Politics will remain a closed door (with photo: 05robin.jpg) Actor Robin Padilla will never run for public office again.

The touted “Bad Boy of Philippine Movies,” who gunned for but failed to secure the vice governorship of Nueva Ecija in 1995, said that while he still gets “many” offers from various parties, particularly to run as senator in 2016, his mind is already “closed” on the matter.

“Hindi talaga kaya, kahit saan mo tignan,” he said. “Ang (ibang) mga anak ko ay nag-aaral abroad, ang mga tuition fees nun (ay) dollars. Ang sweldo ng isang politician, hindi makakapagpaaral sa abroad kasi hindi (sapat) ’yun.”

Padilla claimed he once refused a position in the housing sector supposedly offered to him by Vice President Jejomar Binay.

“Magpapatayo na lang po ako ng housing,” he recalled telling Binay, insisting that, if ever, he will use his own money

for such a project.

He said, “Hindi ako naniniwala na kung gusto mong makatulong at meron ka naman, eh kukuha ka pa ng pera sa gobyerno.

Ang pera ng gobyerno ay para sa taong (kapuspalad).”

Padilla echoed the notion when asked for qualities he is looking for in a president.

More than anything, he believes that the country’s future leader should be willing “gastusin ’yung pera niya (para sa mga mahihirap).”

Who is his presidential bet for 2016?

Well, the action star has Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte; former Senator Panfilo Lacson; or Binay in mind if ever they run for office. Padilla said he will vote for whomever will promote Federalism, believing that it will be the solution to the country’s woes.

Federalism, according to Merriam dictionary, is a political concept wherein the distribution of power is controlled by two levels of government: a central authority and its constituent units.

Sam Milby: I will always love Anne Sam Milby clarified his earlier statement that his former girlfriend, Anne Curtis, “will always remain in [his] heart.”

This comes after Curtis, his co-star in the comedy film “The Gifted,” was asked if she believes that Milby has already moved on from their past relationship.

Milby explained that the reason why he said that is because of the things that they have shared in the past.

“I will. I will always love her because we shared something, yung pinagdaanan namin, yung pinagsamahan namin, we shared something. Para sa akin, kapag in love, parang umaasa pa. Ako, I know na happy siya. I’m truly happy for the both of them,” he said, referring to Curtis’ four-year relationship with restaurateur Erwan Heussaff.

When asked if he’s already over Curtis, Milby said: “If I were still hoping, I’d still feel kind of… basta I’m happy for them.”

Curtis and Milby became a couple during the first quarter of 2007, but the actress broke up with him later that year to establish her “personal relationship with God.” In 2008, the two admitted that they were exclusively dating again. However, Milby ended their relationship in November of the same year.

The two have remained friends since then, with Milby even saying that Curtis is his “deepest love.”

Aside from their upcoming movie “The Gifted”, Milby and Curtis also reunited on screen when they both starred in the recently concluded fantasy series “Dyesebel.”

(MNS)

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SPORTS Pacquiao won’t ‘waste time waiting’ for Mayweather

By Daniel Hicks

MACAU, August 26, 2014 (AFP) – Manny Pacquiao and Chris Algieri are on a two-week, globe-trotting tour to promote their welterweight title fight in November, but the match the world truly wants to see looks further away than ever.

When Pacquiao met the press in Macau on Monday, questions about his elusive megafight with the undefeated American Floyd Mayweather met with a sharp response.

“Who’s that?” Pacquiao joked, when Mayweather was mentioned by reporters.

Pacquiao’s hall-of-fame trainer Freddie Roach was less jovial, conceding bluntly that the two boxing legends, both in the twilight of their glittering careers, may never be seen in the same ring.

“We can’t waste our time waiting for him,” Roach told AFP. “We’ve done everything we could to make that fight happen.

It’s like, we’re available if he’s interested in it, but again we can’t sit around waiting for him.”

Eight-division world champion Pacquiao’s next date is a World Boxing Organization welterweight title defence against the undefeated WBO junior welterweight title-holder Algieri on November 23 in Macau’s Cotai Arena.

The pair were in Macau on Monday and Shanghai on Tuesday, and they will move on to promotional events in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York in the next 12 days.

In 2010, Pacquiao and Mayweather were close to agreeing a fight between the two greatest boxers of their generation,

which could potentially have generated a record $300 million dollars in pay-perview revenue.

‘We are willing to fight’ But it fell through because Mayweather was unhappy with Pacquiao’s drug-testing procedures in training.

That issue receded after Pacquiao agreed to Olympic-style testing, and the Filipino icon expressed his frustration that a Mayweather clash has still moved no closer after getting his career back on track with comprehensive victories in the past nine months over Brandon Rios and Timothy Bradley.

“The possibility to fight with him, you know, the question is not for us,” Pacquiao said. “It’s for them because any time we are willing to fight, any time. I think that question belongs to them, their camp.”

The biggest hurdle that remains—and it is a huge one—is the animosity between Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank and Mayweather’s Golden Boy promotions, who have deals with rival payper-view networks HBO and Showtime, respectively.

Arum admitted on Monday that HBO and Showtime had to “find a way to promote and satisfy both sides from a legal basis”, before the biggest money-spinning fight in the sport’s history could be agreed.

He added the TV rivals had expressed a desire to achieve a deal, but conceded that the final decision lay with Mayweather and Golden Boy who have shown no intent of late to get around the table.

“With Showtime and HBO wanting the fight and Manny wanting the fight, there

Manny Pacquiao throws first pitch at Dodgers vs. Nationals game held Monday at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles. Photo: Chris Farina/Top Rank

is one little step to take and that’s to see where Floyd stands,” Arum said.

Even if there were to be a sudden thawing of relations between the two camps, the earliest a fight could take place is late 2015.

Fitting end? Mayweather has a rematch against Marcos Maidana next month and Pacquiao faces Algieri in November before a likely fifth blockbuster fight against Juan Manuel Marquez, who knocked out Pacquiao in 2012. “Hopefully we can put Marquez in with Pacquiao next year,” said the 82-yearold Arum.

But the reality is that Mayweather-Pacquiao may never come to fruition. Pacquiao is due to retire at the end of his current deal with Top Rank in 2016, when the congressman from Sarangani will be 37.

Mayweather, who is already 37, has a perfect 46-0 record. Assuming Mayweather, who is also tipped to fight Britain’s Amir

Khan early next year, remains unbeaten, he is unlikely to want to risk his dream of equalling Rocky Marciano’s career mark of 49-0 against ‘Pacman’ this time next year.

That just leaves one, extremely remote, possibility for the two to appear in the same ring. Should both remain unbeaten until the end of 2015, they could provide a fitting end to their careers in early 2016 by settling the argument once and for all.

A victory for Mayweather would take him to the magical 50-0 mark, a win for Pacquiao would cement his place as one of the greatest boxers not just of his own generation, but of all time.

The world wants it, Pacquiao wants it and, according to Arum, HBO and Showtime want it. The lucrative pay-day would dwarf anything the sport has seen before.

It’s a quarter-of-a-billion-dollar question. Only ‘Money’ Mayweather knows if he can be tempted give the right answer.

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MOTORING

The Bold and the beautiful: Sweeping redesign keeps 2015 Toyota Camry at the top of its class New design, from bumper to bumper; Boldest looking Camry ever is also the quietest ever September 2, 2014 – The best-selling car in America for the last 12 years just got better! When redesigning the Camry for 2015, Toyota went bumper to bumper and floor to roof, changing or re-engineering nearly 2,000 parts. Only the roof remains unchanged, and it caps off the boldest Camry body ever.

That provides an idea of the scope of the transformation that also endows the new Camry with a stiffer body structure, enhanced aerodynamics and its quietest ride ever. The redesigned, upscale interior, and advanced instrumentation with intuitive controls help keep the driver safely focused on the road.

The redesigned interior looks and feels much more upscale, featuring premium,

soft-touch materials throughout.

Getting Sporty, Getting Younger The 2015 model is easily the best-handling and most comfortable-riding Camry ever. Beneath the bolder body lines the Camry’s body structure has been bolstered with additional spot welds to enhance rigidity. Retuned suspension systems in all models put an edge on handling agility while taking the edge off bumps.

And, for the 45 percent of Camry customers who have been choosing the sporty SE model (and who are, on average, 12 years younger than other Camry customers), there’s even bigger news. The SE is joined by an even sharper-handling XSE grade, with 18-inch wheels, suspension tuning and added luxury. Like the premium XLE grade, each of those sporty models is available with the choice of a 178-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or the 268-hp 3.5-liter V6. The Camry Hybrid returns, as

The friendly sales team at Penske Toyota of West Covina: (from left) Brian Bautista, Oscar Monge and Daniel Rocha (rightmost).

well, available in LE, XLE and the eco-fun SE grades.

Expressive. Athletic. Exciting. Yes, It’s

a Camry.

An aggressive looking front bumper and grille, pronounced side character lines and low-profile LED headlamps give the new Camry a far more expressive style.

It’s a sleeker look that’s also slightly longer (1.8 inches / 45 mm) and features a widened track (0.4 inches / 10 mm) that communicates a dynamic stance and presence. In profile, a pronounced body line starts from the Camry’s muscular front fender and spans across the doors and rear quarter panel, conveying a sense of motion.

Sleek new headlamps are the eyes in a new Camry face you won’t forget. The 2015 Camry offers available LED low- and high beams with auto static leveling, and front turn signal indicators and LED DRL’s are integrated for an elegant appearance.

Tail lamps wrap around into the tapered rear quarters for a more sophisticated appearance. The 2015 Camry is available in 10 colors, including the all-new Celestial Silver Metallic and Ruby Flare Pearl.

Additional colors new for Camry include Blizzard Pearl; Predawn Gray Mica; and Blue Crush Metallic Plush, Hushed Cabin Drivers will love the 2015 Camry interior, and so will passengers. Everywhere you look and touch, the Camry presents premium materials, an overall roomier feel and enhanced amenities. Varying by model, seat cover textures range from premium fabric up to genuine leather trim and Ultrasuede with durable, high contrast French-stitching. Detailed stitching and satin chrome trim give the new Camry cabin a sophisticated appearance and luxurious feel.

Dialing Up Driving Fun Sharpening the agility in a car the right way starts with a stiffer structure. Toyota added additional spot welds to the Camry’s door opening flanges to increase rigidity, which in turn enabled the suspension tuning needed to enable more spirited handling.

The electric power steering on all 2015 Camry models is tuned for better on-center feel, enhanced straightline stability and more direct-feeling steering inputs. Drivers will also experience better feel from the brake system, which now uses a two-stage booster.

If you want to check out the new Toyota Camry or buy one now, come and visit our friends Brian Bautista, Daniel Rocha and Oscar Monge at Penske West Covina Toyota located at 1800 E Garvey Ave S West Covina, CA. They can be reached toll free at 1-855593-2298.

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Kia to unveil quieter, more luxurious Sorento in Paris (Relaxnews) – At the Paris Motor Show in October, Kia will stage the European premiere of its third-generation Sorento premium SUV. Recently unveiled in South Korea, the new model offers a more refined style and a quieter ride than the outgoing version.

The front of the new Sorento stands out for its elongated, wrap-around headlights, larger fog lights and oversized ‘tiger nose’ grille, which resembles the one seen on Kia’s 2013 Cross GT concept. On the inside, the cargo capacity has been expanded from 515 to 605 liters when the seats are folded down. There is also a brand new storage compartment built directly into the

floor of the trunk.

Even more than in the past, the current trend in the premium SUV segment is one towards increasing luxury and refinement, as seen in the latest Volvo XC90, which will also be on display in Paris. The latest Sorento is no exception to the rule, particularly on the interior, with its sleek instrument panel and details in leather and other high-end materials. In Europe, clients will have a choice of a monochrome or twotone interior (Saturn Black or Saturn Black and Stone), with fabric or leather seats.

A number of optional features will be available in certain markets, such as a parking assistant with a 360° monitor and

four cameras, or a smart electronic tailgate that can be opened remotely. The manufacturer also equipped the vehicle with several active safety features, including smart adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, forward collision alert, blind spot detection, lane change assistance and speed limit sign recognition.

Finally, Kia is also touting a reduction in noise and vibration from inside the vehicle, namely due to the increased thickness of the dashboard soundproof panel and to larger mounts for the engine and transmission. The result, according to the car maker, is a three to six percent decrease in noise and vibration within the cabin.

The new Kia Sorento, available as a 5-seater or 7-seater, will be available with a choice of five engines ranging in output from 172 to 270hp.

The Paris Motor Show takes place from October 4 to 19.

If you want to find out why Kia is among the leading car brands of today, drop by Car Pros Kia of Carson at 21243 S Avalon Blvd, Carson, CA 90745 (telephone # 310-221-9131), or at Car Pros Kia Huntington Beach at 18835 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, CA 92648 (714-6131119) and last but won’t be the last, at Car Pros Kia Glendale at 400 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91204 (818) 745-1400.

Nissan Altima named one of the ‘10 Most Comfortable Cars Under $30,000’ by Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com 2014 model noted for its NASA-inspired “Zero Gravity” front seats NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A consumer favorite and Nissan’s top-selling model in the U.S., the Nissan Altima continues to impress with its premium exterior and interior design and functionality.

This week, the 2014 Altima was named one of the “10 Most Comfortable Cars Under $30,000” by Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com. The Altima finished sixth on the list, with KBB.com editors specifically citing its “notably comfortable” NASA-inspired “Zero Gravity” front seats as a selling-point.

To create the “10 Most Comfortable Cars Under $30,000” list, KBB.com editors selected cars offering comfort-oriented features that “debuted upmarket just a few years ago.”

Each of the 10 vehicles start below $30,000 according to Kelley Blue Book’s Fair Purchase Price (FPP), a tool designed to show shoppers what others are paying for a specific new car. The 2014 Altima’s current FPP is $21,223

USD, among the top three most affordable on the list.

“In addition to its advanced ‘Zero Gravity’ front seats, the 2014 Altima features soft-touch armrests as well as noise absorption materials to help reduce cabin noise and improve the overall experience inside the vehicle,“ said Fred Diaz, senior vice president, Nissan Sales & Marketing and Operations.

Diaz also said, “Coupled with its innovative, stylish design and wide range of available technology features, the Altima is the perfect home-away-from-home. This honor from Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com further reaffirms our commitment to comfortable, quality products and the needs of our customers.”

With a starting MSRP of only $22,170*, the Nissan Altima is the centerpiece of the Nissan lineup. One of the top selling cars in the U.S., it offers a premium exterior and interior and driver-focused technology. Its many attributes include outstanding fuel economy of 38 mpg highway (2.5-liter engine only) and an outstanding balance of ride comfort, stability and a fun-to-drive demeanor.

Altima is offered in five well-equipped models to meet

a wide range of needs and budgets – and with a choice of a 182-horsepower 2.5-liter DOHC inline 4-cylinder engine or 270-horsepower 3.5-liter V6. Both engines are matched with a smooth, efficient Xtronic transmission.

If you have been desiring to own a new Nissan vehicle, come down to Nissan Mission Hills and Manuel Lava of Nissan of check out our kababayan Mission Hills Manuel Lava of Nissan Mission Hills. So what are you waiting for? Schedule a Test drive on the vehicle of your choice at Nissan of Mission Hills. Call Manuel at 1-888-588-7635 and test drive a Nissan vehicle today!

Nissan of Mission Hills is located at 11000 Sepulveda Blvd., Mission Hills, CA 91345.

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Mitsubishi Motors continues strong sales pace Best August sales in three years; Redesigned Outlander experiences best year-to-date sales in six years Cypress, Calif., Sept. 3, 2014 – Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) continues its upward sales momentum through the month of August with sales totaling 6,786 units, a 28.5 percent increase over the sales total from August 2013.

The American-made Outlander Sport 5-passenger compact crossover/SUV was the brand’s sales leader among its diverse model lineup with sales of 2,869 units in August – the best August sales month and the second best all-time month of sales since its release in 2010.

Like the Outlander Sport, the extremely fuel-efficient Mirage 5-door sub-compact scored its second best all-time month of sales in August with 1,666 units sold.

The recently redesigned Outlander 7-passenger crossover/SUV also demonstrated exceptional sales momentum with sales of 1,134 units for August. Sales for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) “Top Safety Pick+”rated Outlander are now up 19.9 percent year-to-date and represent the best January through August sales for the

model since 2008.

“Outlander Sport and Mirage continue to lead the way with consistently strong sales,” said MMNA Executive Vice President of Sales, Don Swearingen. “And it is equally gratifying to see our redesigned Outlander crossover/ SUV have its strongest sales run since 2008. Outlander offers excellent fuel efficiency and highly advanced safety technologies all at a very affordable price.”

Other highlights of August sales include: Total Mitsubishi sales are up 28.9 percent year-to-date Best August sales for the brand since 2011 Best Lancer Evolution sales in August since 2008 Outlander Sport sales are up 25 percent year-to-date For those who are loyal or have been wanting to own a Mitsubishi, you can now avail of your favorite Mitsubishi brand by visiting Cerritos Mitsubishi where our kababayans will help you choose the right car for you, whether it’s the Mitsubishi Outlander, Lancer or other Mitsubishi vehicle.

Come and visit our kababayan Mark and his Fil-Am crew at the Cerritos Mitsubishi, where kababayans are always treated as special customers. Even their marketing thrust is anchored on that magical Tagalog word: Kababayan.

They also have a Kabayan Price.

“We have the best lease payment program, we offer huge discounts on many of our models,” said Mark.

Cerritos Mitsubishi “And for new immigrants, first time GSM Mark Mercado buyers, and those without credit or are now having a bad credit just like everybody else, approval is not a big deal. We have a way of doing it.”

Along with Mark, Eugene C., Alfie A. and Arvin backstop the sales operation for the Filipino market. Call now toll free at 1-888-887-6090 to get the same Number 1 customer service from our very own kababayans.

Booming electric car sales under fire in Norway Ministers in Norway – a major and rich oil-producing country – are under increasing public pressure to reduce perks and tax breaks for booming electric car sales.

“It’s become a problem,” said Erik Haugstad, a bus driver in the Oslo region who complains about the numerous electric cars clogging bus lanes, which they have the right to use in Norway.

The cars are also exempt from urban toll payments or fees at public parking spaces, where they can recharge batteries without cost.

But above all, they are exempt from Norway’s sky high sales taxes and VAT. Norway brought in the generous incentives to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions from traffic, which accounts for 10 percent of total emissions in the Nordic nation.

The policy has been so successful that 32,000 electric cars are now on the road – by far the highest rate per capita in the world, in a country with a 5.1 million population.

“I’m a bus driver and I want to transport my passengers as quickly as possible.

So, I’d like electric cars to leave the bus lanes, where they’re getting in my way,” Haugstad said.

“These delays have a cost for society.

Time lost by thousands of our passengers in traffic is far greater than that gained by

a few dozen electric car drivers.”

He said the cars can create a vicious circle – tired of being stuck in traffic, bus users could be tempted to buy an electric car themselves, worsening the congestion problem.

13 percent of sales Electric cars already represent 85 percent of traffic in bus lanes during rush hour, according to a study by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration on a busy stretch of road outside Oslo.

“It’s a subject we discuss very often with colleagues during lunch break. Many of them are far more aggressive and don’t measure their words as much as me,” Haugstad said.

No decision has been made so far, but it looks increasingly likely that authorities will take action to unclog congested areas – especially during rush hour.

In the meantime, electric car sales keep growing. From the popular Leaf by Japan’s Nissan to high-end US-made Tesla S, they have accounted for 13 percent of new car sales since the beginning of 2014, far ahead of the rest of the world.

In March, the Tesla became the highest selling car in a single month in Norway’s history, despite its relatively high price.

Although a basic model costs about 60,000 euros ($79,000), it still sounds like a bargain considering that a price including

Norway brought in the generous incentives to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions from traffic, which accounts for 10 percent of total emissions in the Nordic nation. The policy has been so successful that 32,000 electric cars are now on the road – by far the highest rate per capita in the world, in a country with a 5.1 million population. ©AFP PHOTO / PIERRE-HENRY DESHAYES

taxes would be roughly double.

The popularity of electric cars has caught the authorities off guard, as they expected to keep the incentives in place until 2017, or until they number 50,000.

At the current pace, that figure could be reached in the beginning of 2015, forcing the government to rethink its costly policy.

The tax exemptions alone account for

up to 4 billion kroner (500 million euros, $650 million), according to the state’s own estimates.

“We might make lowering adjustments in the future,” Prime Minister Erna Solberg recently told Norwegian newspaper VG. “But I can promise drivers that there will still be fiscal advantages to driving an electric car.”

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A family van affair: 2015 Toyota Sienna makes room for eight The only van in its segment available with all-wheel drive September 02, 2014 – The family van is alive and thriving, especially when it’s the 2015 Toyota Sienna debuting refreshed exterior styling packed with added safety, convenience and multi-media features.

The 2015 Sienna, the only family van to offer an all-wheel drive option, is the ideal choice for hauling a large family, or loading up all your stuff for a weekend getaway.

Inside, Sienna really shines with an array of upgraded interior appointments and new convenience features allow the family hauler to remain kid-friendly, but in a parents rule environment.

After the new and enhanced safety features, the one new Sienna feature for 2015 that will have parents talking is the new Driver Easy Speak option. If you’ve ever had the urge to use a bullhorn to carry your voice to back seat passengers, Driver Easy Speak is your dream come true. Using the microphone from the Sienna’s voicecommand multi-media system, Driver Easy Speak conveys your voice through the audio system’s rear speakers.

Combined with a standard conversation mirror integrated into the overhead console, Driver Easy Speak is the next best thing to having a hallway monitor in the van.

Subtle exterior styling refinements give the Sienna a more upscale look, with a revised front grille, and new slimmer headlight units with an advanced design for the SE and Limited grades. New LED daytime running lamps (DRLs), standard for the SE and Limited, give the Sienna a more aggressive appearance. All grades

Filipino Sales Manager Wilford Solancho and Filipino Fleet Manager Jay Soriano of Hooman Toyota.

except the SE get redesigned taillight clusters, too. It’s not all about appearance. A stiffer platform, with 142 additional spot welds, translates to a driving experience unexpected from a minivan.

The Sienna is powered exclusively by a silky-smooth 266-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 teamed with a six-speed automatic transmission. This combination gives the Sienna confident power for urban trekking or highway merging while using fuel efficiently. Combined with the standard Tow Prep Package, the V6 gives the Sienna a 3,500-pound towing capacity. Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and a wide stance help deliver a solid, direct on-road feel.

Aerodynamic under-body elements also contribute to Sienna’s dynamic performance.

More Safety Features Toyota values the trust that customers put in the Sienna, and for 2015, the van’s safety roster gains numerous enhancements. For securing child seats, there’s an additional LATCH location available in the third row seat, for a total of four locations.

Toyota increased the side curtain airbag coverage area by 30 percent, helping to improve protection in a collision.

A new front passenger seat cushion air-

The 2015 Sienna, the only family van to offer an all-wheel drive option, is the ideal choice for hauling a large family, or loading up all your stuff for a weekend getaway.

bag enhances restraint performance during a collision. The front passenger airbag features a twin-lobe airbag, which simulates a twin-chamber design, with a depression in the center, to help reduce impact forces.

The front passenger seat has a new selectable force-limiting seatbelt to help enhance safety for a greater variety of physiques.

Airbag control in the 2015 Sienna has been modified to better match needs for vehicle rollover and small overlap collisions.

Unexpected Luxury and Style Family van drivers deserve a little more style and comfort. In the 2015 Sienna, a new center console and dash design elegantly groups the air conditioning, shifter and multimedia controls into a single unified panel. Controls fall within easy reach.

New soft upper door trim, dashboard graining, and new blue illumination, help

make every drive just a bit more serene. A new Tri-Sync switch for the air conditioning lets the driver more easily control the three climate zones.

Sienna’s new three-spoke heated steering wheel, available trimmed in leather or premium leather, ups the luxury ante.

Not all arms are created equal, which is why the new available pushbutton driver’s seat center armrest in the 2015 Sienna can be adjusted to many positions. It even remembers the last position after the armrest has been stowed.

Getting vehicle information at a glance just got easier in the 2015 Sienna. All models come with a new multi-information display in the instrument panel, directly ahead of the driver. There’s a base 3.5-inch dot-matrix LCD version or a 4.2-inch color TFT (thin film transistor) display on uplevel models. With either, you can toggle to audio controls using the four-way switch on the steering wheel. The TFT version is linked to the multi-media system and can also display navigation information. This version can even show all-wheel drive operation on AWD models.

If you want to check out the new AllWheel Drive Toyota Sienna, come down to Hooman Toyota and get in touch with our kababayans Filipino Sales Manager Wilford Solancho and Filipino Fleet Manager Jay Soriano or call them toll free at 1-800-519-2446. Hooman Toyota is located at 4401 Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90804.

Audi recalls 70,000 cars over braking system problem FRANKFURT, August 29, 2014 (AFP) – Audi, the top-of-the-range car maker belonging to auto giant Volkswagen, said on Friday it is recalling 70,000 cars worldwide owing to potential problems with braking systems.

An Audi spokesman told AFP that the recall affected the company’s A4, the A5, the A5 Cabrio, the A6, the A7 and also the Q5 crossovers models built between March and December 2012.

The models were fitted with the 3.0 liter TDI turbo diesel engine.

The problem had been found within the brakes as the engine oil could enter the brake servo through the vacuum lines and make it rupture, causing failure, Audi explained.

This would eventually increase the stopping distance and pose a potential hazard to the driver, occupants and other road users.

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Special Edition Prius takes on a new persona for 2015 TORRANCE, Calif. (July 30, 2014) – The best-selling hybrid in America is taking style to a new level. The 2015 Prius Persona Series Special Edition is tailored with elegant exterior and interior touches that make it unique. The special edition model will begin arriving in dealerships in September.

The Prius Persona Series Special Edition model adds exterior changes and equipment to a Prius Three to create a distinct visual package. Persona Series includes 17-inch alloy wheels with a premium dark metallic finish. The special edition also comes equipped with premium heated power mirrors with turn signal indicators.

The Persona model will be available in two exterior colors, Blizzard Pearl, and for the first time ever on this model, Absolutely Red. A “Persona Series” exterior badge on the rear of the vehicle also helps differentiate the model.

The Persona’s interior is trimmed in black SofTex with gray stitching. The steering wheel is also trimmed in SofTex material and includes a dark chrome bezel that complements the new model’s dark chrome shift knob ring and door grips. To add to the luxurious visuals, Persona Series features blue driver and front-passenger foot area illumination.

The new Persona Special Edition has a MSRP of $26,985. Blizzard Pearl exterior paint is accompanied by an additional $395 fee. The MSRP for the 2015 Prius Persona Series Special Edition does not include the

Paul Luong (left) and Quang Huynh of Wondries Toyota in Alhambra.

delivery, processing, and handling (DPH) fee of $825. The DPH fee for vehicles distributed by Southeast Toyota (SET) and Gulf States Toyota (GST) may vary.

So for a closer look at the all-new Toyota vehicles and their certified pre-owned, come and visit our friendly salespeople at Wondries Toyota in Alhambra where the Prius and all other Toyota vehicles of various models are now available and on sale right now.

And with Paul Luong and Quang Huynh assisting you, you can also take advantage of the great deals now happening at Wondries Toyota, not to mention the extra customer service Paul and Quang always provide to their Filipino customers.

For more information, please contact Paul at paull@ wondriestoyota.com or call him at 626.414.2525 or Quang at or qhuynh88@gmail or by phone at 626.524.0579. Wondries Alhambra is located at 1543- 1601 W. Main St., Alhambra, CA 91801 and see why Yaris is a “great blend” of performance, fuel efficiency and safety.

Tesla, Panasonic to build battery plant in Nevada LOS ANGELES, September 4, 2014 (AFP) – US electric automaker Tesla Motors is to build a new multi-billion-dollar “Gigafactory” in Nevada, the western US state’s senator Harry Reid announced Thursday.

The plant, plans for which were announced in July with Japanese electronics giant Panasonic, will produce lithium-ion batteries for Tesla’s cars. The location of the plant had not been previously confirmed.

“Later this afternoon (Tesla boss) Elon Musk and (Nevada) Governor Brian Sandoval will officially announce Nevada is the home to Tesla’s new Gigafactory,” said Reid, the Senate majority leader.

“Most importantly for Nevada, this factory will create thousands and thousands of good-paying jobs and be so good for our economic development,” he told a National Clean Energy Summit held in Las Vegas.

Tesla was due to hold a press conference

in Reno, Nevada at 4:00 pm (2300 GMT) Thursday to unveil the plans.

The company said in July that it had opened a site in Nevada which could host the Gigafactory but that other locations were still being evaluated.

Tesla will run operations while its Japanese partner will make battery cells destined for the plant and invest in equipment and machinery, according to a joint statement released at that time.

Japanese media previously reported that Panasonic would invest as much as 30 billion yen ($290 million) in the plant.

While Tesla produces relatively few vehicles, it has become a star in the sector due to keen demand and a reputation for high quality. A surge in its share price over the past year has pushed its value over $27 billion.

Tesla’s Model S sells for around $75,000 but it is working on a less expensive Model X that is expected to garner wider appeal.

Kia to open $1 billion car assembly plant in Mexico MEXICO CITY, August 27, 2014 (AFP) – South Korean carmaker Kia Motors on Wednesday announced plans to build its first auto assembly plant in Mexico.

The $1 billion plant is to be built near the city of Monterrey in northern Mexico and would begin operations in 2016.

It will have state-of-the-art technology and capacity to make 300,000 vehicles a year, the company’s vice president for global strategy, Hyung-Kun Lee said.

Lee did not say what types or models of vehicles are to be produced there.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who joined Lee for the announcement, said the South Korean carmaker would invest more than $1 billion in the project.

KIA was the third foreign carmaker in as many months to announce major projects in Mexico.

In July, BMW said it plans to install a $1 billion plant in San Luis Potosi with annual production capacity of 150,000 vehicles.

In June, Renault and Mercedes-Benz announced plans to co-produce up to 300,000 compact cars a year in Aguascalientes. The project involves a $1.35 billion investment. Mexico is the world’s eighth largest auto producer, and fourth largest auto exporter.

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